30/9/2024
George Saijah, Chairman of the Referees Association of Ghana has revealed that members of the Association who are appointed to officiate Ghana Premier League (GPL) matches are paid a sum of GHS1,000 as a take home pay after every game.
Mr. Saijah made this assertion during a probe into the petition submitted by the ‘Save Ghana Football Forum’ in February this year, saying referees who officiate the country’s top flight are paid one thousand cedis per match.
He added that referees who officiate Division One League also take home GHc750.00.
“[The salary] is a take-home of 1,000 cedis for Premier League referees. The Division One League and the referees in the Women’s League receive 750 cedis,” he said.
George Saijah further explained that the money given to the top flight referees is to cater for their feeding as well as accommodation.
“The 1,000 cedis comprise of their transportation, officiating, hotel and food,” he added.
Over the years, it is perceived that within the football world referees are sometimes compelled to manipulate their officiating duties to favour clubs in return for money due to their meagre remuneration.
By: Maxwell Woyram Tsigbe