The Umpires’ Committee of World Hockey unknowingly gave Ghana a special 50th Birthday present when it approved the GHA’s application for the upgrading of umpire George Roland Mensah to an FIH International Outdoor Umpire.

In a message communicated to the Chairman and the Secretariat of the Association, the Chairman of the FIH Umpiring Committee indicated that after a careful evaluation of the performance of George spanning some three international competitions it had accepted the GHA’s application for his upgrading.

In the message sent, the FIH congratulated Mr. Mensah and the GHA on the occasion and wished Mr. Mensah well in his umpiring career.

The upgrading of George Mensah brings to three the FIH Outdoor Umpires in Ghana, two males and one female.

The GHA and the hockey fraternity take the opportunity to congratulate George on his upgrading and wish him a steady rise in his umpiring career.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the GHA has indicated that a short ceremony would be held in due course to officially decorate Mr. Mensah with the FIH badge and handed his identity card and other items. He expressed his appreciation to his team members, especially the Umpiring Group and assured all officiating officials of the Association’s commitment to give them adequate opportunities to develop and be recognised by the African Hockey Federation and World Hockey for upgrading.