RAG Chairman Laments Unpaid Salaries for Referees Despite GHC 2M Club Support
The National Chairman of the Referees Association of Ghana (RAG), George Saijah, has raised serious concerns over the financial neglect of referees in the domestic game, despite significant investments made in Premier League clubs.
Speaking on Adom TV’s Fire for Fire, Saijah revealed that while all Ghana Premier League clubs were allocated GHC 2 million at the start of the season, referees continue to go unpaid, with several arrears piling up.
“All the Premier League clubs have been given GHC 2M when the league started but the referees have not still received their money or salaries. Ghana Premier League referees are still owed 10 weeks starting from last season,” he stated.
According to him, the situation is not only limited to the Premier League, as referees across the Division One League and domestic cup competitions also remain unpaid.
“Division One League referees are owed. They only paid the preliminary stage of the Men’s FA Cup; the rest of the knockout stage haven’t been paid. For the Women’s FA Cup, they haven’t paid,” Saijah explained.
He criticized the unfair treatment, stressing that referees are struggling to sustain themselves while being asked to pre-finance their activities.
“The referees don’t have money so when they are told to pre-finance themselves, it becomes a difficulty,” he lamented, adding that such a situation would not be tolerated in other African countries.
Saijah’s comments highlight the growing frustration within the refereeing fraternity, with calls intensifying for the Ghana Football Association and relevant authorities to prioritize the welfare of match officials, who remain key stakeholders in the success of the local game.
