GFA Special Tourney: Nothing less than GHS 1,000 will make us officiate – Referees

Chairman of the Referees Association of Ghana (RAG), Joe Debrah, has said nothing less than a thousand cedis will make members of his outfit continue to referee in the ongoing special football competition.

The figure being demanded, Mr Debrah was specific, excludes transportation fee for members.

The Normalisation Committee decided to peg the allowance of the referees at GH¢850.00 for the competition but the chairman says that amount is nothing to write home about.

“Even with the GH₵1,000.00 we are demanding, 10% will be deducted as match tax, living us with just GH¢ 900. Hotel accommodation for two nights is GH₵400.00 and when you subtract that from the GH₵900.00, we are left with GH¢500.00,” he explained.

“Feeding fee for a day is GH₵50.00, multiply it by the two days and it will be GH₵100.00; subtract it from the GH₵500.00 and you are left with GH₵400.00,” he continued.“Local transportation fee [from the house to the lorry station] might cost GH₵50.00, subtract that one too from the remaining GH₵400.00 and you are left with GH₵350.00; so that will be the referee’s allowance, GH¢ 350.00,” he explained further.

Mr Debrah was speaking on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports morning show, Monday. Mr Debrah also noted that refereeing in Ghana does not pay, saying they were still in the job just for the pride and love of it.

Though the actual money is GH¢1,000.00, the take-home money is GH¢350.00 after the deductions. The referee will use the same GH¢350.00 cedis to buy medicine, boots for training, clothes etcetera. Is this money,” he asked.