Referees borrow money and sleep at bus stations before games- Referees Chairman George Kojo Saijah

George Kojo Saijah, the National Chairman of the Referees Association of Ghana, has highlighted the severe challenges faced by referees in the country, including low wages, unpaid allowances, and inadequate support.

He stated, “Ghanaian referees are the least paid; they sometimes have to borrow money, which makes doing their job extremely challenging,” revealing that their pay is under $70, the lowest in Africa.

Saijah also shared how referees struggle with basic expenses like transport and accommodation, often sacrificing personal funds.

“Some sleep at the bus stations,” he added. Despite raising the issue with the Ghana Football Association, Parliament, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, he lamented, “We are being owed money from 2014 till date,” with no action taken.