The President of Bechem United Football Club, Kingsley Owusu Achau, has urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to strengthen its monitoring of referees and match commissioners, stressing that credible officiating is crucial to restoring fans’ confidence and improving attendance at Ghana Premier League matches.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, Achau stressed the importance of referees in ensuring credible and attractive domestic football, noting that fans are more likely to attend matches when they have confidence in the fairness of officiating.
“Referees play an important role in our football. If the game is interesting enough to attract fans to the park, then they know that the game isn’t predetermined,” he said.
Achau, however, alleged that there is a prevalence of bribery within Ghana’s football, claiming that club officials have at some point engaged in improper payments to referees or match commissioners.
“Every club manager in Ghana, including myself, has, in one way or another, paid bribes to referees and match commissioners,” he added.
He also called for closer scrutiny of match commissioners, suggesting that their integrity must be monitored because they can also be vulnerable to compromise.
“There should be some monitoring of the match commissioners’ integrity because sometimes they are compromised.”
According to Achau, improving officiating could have benefits beyond the outcome of individual matches, including increasing stadium attendance and reducing incidents of hooliganism.
“Good officiating is crucial in increasing stadium attendance and also minimising hooliganism.”
He believes controversial or poor refereeing decisions can fuel frustration among supporters and potentially contribute to violence at match venues.
Achau therefore challenged the GFA to take firm disciplinary action against officials whose performances fall below the required standards, arguing that stronger accountability would help restore confidence in the league.
“So if the GFA can punish referees who officiate badly, then it eases the fans and prevents them from hurting each other due to wrong or bad officiating, so the challenge is on the FA,” he stated.
His comments come amid broader concerns about officiating, matchday attendance and the financial sustainability of Ghana’s football.
For Achau, improving the integrity and quality of refereeing should be a priority for the GFA if it wants to rebuild trust in the league and encourage more supporters to return to the stadium.
With the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League set to begin this weekend, Bechem United will open their campaign against Bibiani GoldStars on Sunday, September 6, at the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:00 pm.
