President John Dramani Mahama has expressed serious concerns about the standard of refereeing in the Ghana Premier League, warning that perceptions of biased officiating are damaging the credibility of the domestic game and driving supporters away from stadiums.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by Ghana Premier League champions Medeama SC, MTN FA Cup holders Nations FC and Ampem Darkoa Ladies ahead of their CAF inter-club campaigns, the President said many football fans believe the outcome of some league matches is decided before kick-off.
“Unfortunately, refereeing is one of the things destroying our football. Sometimes people believe the matches are decided before they are even played, and that makes the league less competitive,” Mahama said.
The President urged the Ghana Referees Association and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to work together to improve officiating standards and restore public confidence in the league.
According to Mahama, the growing perception that some matches are predetermined has discouraged many supporters from attending league games, leading to declining gate proceeds for clubs.
“Many spectators have stopped attending matches because they believe the outcomes are predetermined. That is reducing attendance and gate proceeds,” he stressed.
Mahama insisted that every Ghana Premier League match must be officiated fairly to ensure clubs compete on merit, arguing that only transparent and credible refereeing will restore the league’s competitiveness and rebuild trust among football fans.
