President John Dramani Mahama has raised serious concerns over poor refereeing and perceived match manipulation in Ghana football, warning that questionable officiating is destroyi
The report indicates that president John Dramani Mahama has raised serious concerns over poor refereeing and perceived match manipulation in Ghana football, warning that questionable officiating is destroying confidence in the Ghana Premier League, driving supporters away from stadiums and hurting club revenues.
It further notes that speaking at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, President Mahama stated restoring confidence in refereeing and ensuring that matches are decided purely on merit must become a priority for the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the referees’ body.
“Unfortunately, refereeing is one of the things that is destroying our football. The matches are played before they are played,” Mahama said.
The President made the remarks when he received players and officials of Ghana Premier League champions Medeama SC, Nations FC and Women’s Premier League champions Ampem Darkoa Ladies, who are preparing to represent Ghana in CAF inter-club competitions.
Mahama’s concerns went beyond the quality of individual refereeing decisions. He highlighted the damaging perception among supporters that some results are predetermined, arguing that such suspicions strike directly at the credibility and commercial viability of Ghanaian football.
He also referred to claims about clubs budgeting for “ways and means” — a euphemism commonly associated with attempts to influence matches — and warned that football cannot thrive when supporters doubt the integrity of the competition.
“It is in our interest to make the matches competitive. The matches must be tough, and everybody must leave feeling that there was a neutral referee and that matches were won fairly,” he said.
The President challenged the GFA and referees’ authorities to work together to improve officiating and rebuild public trust in the domestic game.
“I want the Referees Association of Ghana and the Football Association to work together to improve refereeing standards. Every match must be fairly officiated so that whoever wins does so on merit. That is the only way to restore confidence in our football,” Mahama stated.
For the President, the consequences are already visible.
Poor officiating and suspicions of manipulation, he argued, have contributed to the declining competitiveness of the Ghana Premier League and become a major disincentive for supporters who would otherwise pay to watch matches.
Falling attendances subsequently deprive clubs of gate revenue and weaken a league already battling financial and commercial challenges.
GH¢684,000 for Medeama, Nations FC, Ampem Darkoa
Mahama used the occasion to rally support behind Ghana’s continental representatives while presenting GH¢684,000 from the Sports Development Fund to support their preparations.
