Retired referee George Saija has bemoaned the payment given Ghanaian referees for officiating domestic matches.
He told Isaac Ansah Apagya on Agoro Fie on Onua TV on Monday, April 28 that Ghanaian referees are the least paid in Africa.
The Chairman of the Referees Association of Ghana (RAG) revealed that referees in the Ghana Premier League are given GH¢1,100 per match.
“The referees are dying, we are the least paid referees in Africa,” he emphasised.
“If you convert the GH¢1,100, check if it’s up to $200,” he dared the host.
“All over Africa, the least is $250 and when you multiply by GH¢14, how much is that? Won’t you get about GH¢2,000?”
He said travelling from Accra to Tamale or Wa and back, a referee spends about GH¢900, not to mention hotel, of about GH¢500 per night, and feeding fees, of about GH¢200.
“Why won’t you see this and quickly do something about it?” he challenged the Ghana football administrators.
He said he is not surprised by a letter making rounds about a group of referees threatening to boycott the Ghana Premier League.
The letter, purportedly coming from a group by name Concerned Referees and Match Commissioners of Ghana (CRAMCOG), is announcing a decision by members to boycott the remaining matches of the 2024/25 season.
“This difficult decision had to be taken unequivocally due to our unpaid allowances for 21 weeks and we don’t intend to return until all our outstanding debts are paid,” the letter to the General Secretary of the Association said.
