Match Officials in the Ghana Premier league have started benefitting from the services of Inter City STC buses as means of transportation to their various assigned match destinations.
The GFA and Inter City STC Coaches signed a partnership deal before the commencement of the league aimed at easing off the transportation burden of match officials ‘’to and from’’ match venues during the season.
About thirty-six (36) referees were privileged to benefit directly from the partnership on match day 1 and the GFA communication team has been speaking with some of the beneficiaries on their first-time experiences.
REF. JONES AKUBIEM
‘’I was appointed to officiate a GPL match between WAFA and KINGFAISAL on 15/11/20 at Sogakope. With the help of the referees Manager, Alex Osam, Isaac Asante and BismarkAppiah and myself were able to contact the operations manager at STC who booked our tickets from the Bunso terminal to Sogakope. but due to the closure of the Aflao border the STC has temporary halted its operations from Kumasi to Aflao. We were directed to get in touch with the TUDU terminal where we were warmly received. We paid half the fare and had a comfortable and convenient ride.What amazed me more was that, as Soon as we finished officiating our match and with just a call to their AFLAO terminal our seats were reserved and the bus picked us in Sogakope back to Accra. This is actually a wealth creation in our pockets and we say a big thank you to STC and the GFA for such a partnership’’.
REF. TAMPURI EMMANUEL
My journey with STC from Bolgatanga to Accra was great. Firstly, it was safe and we had two drivers who drove in turns when one was tried. They actually maintained the speed limit. Also, the custom care was good. When we were to book a ticket, the manager and traffic officer where very helpful. A driver also took us through our stops on departure. They also apologized for the inconvenience caused for taking off late due to network issues in the ticketing system. I wish to thank the GFA and STC for such a great partnership’’.
ASST. REF. PETER DAWSA
‘’Traveling with STC has been so wonderful. Apart from the fact that it is very safe, I also get an unprecedented privilege from the GFA of having to pay half of my fare (i.e both in and out). This to me is the beginning of many good things to come to us referees. I must also confess that the reception I got from the Traffic Operations Department at all terminals was very cooperative and I hope it continuous. Moving forward, I hope the STC ticket department will continue to give us this nicetreatment. Like Oliver Twist, I also wish the GFA extends the partnership with STC from the 50 percent discount to 100 percent discount’’.
The coming into fruition of this transportation deal will go a long way in ensuring referees find solace and comfort, when travelling from their base to other parts of the country to officiate during the league season.
Source: GFA