Bechem United president Kingsley Owusu Achau has urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to strengthen its monitoring of referees and match commissioners, insisting that credible officiating is key to restoring supporters’ confidence in the Ghana Premier League.
Achau believes fans will be more motivated to attend league matches if they are convinced that games are being officiated fairly and without external influence.
Speaking on Asempa FM, the Bechem United president emphasised the important role refereeing plays in making domestic football competitive, attractive and trustworthy.
“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.
However, Achau alleged that bribery continues to be a challenge within Ghanaian football and claimed that club officials, including himself, have at some point made 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 alleged.
He also called for greater scrutiny of match commissioners, arguing that they, too, can be vulnerable to manipulation and must be held to high standards of integrity.
“There should be some monitoring of the match commissioners' integrity because sometimes they are compromised,” he added.
According to Achau, improving the quality and integrity of officiating could have a significant impact on Ghanaian football, particularly by increasing stadium attendance and reducing incidents of hooliganism.
“Good officiating is crucial in increasing stadium attendance and also minimising hooliganism,” he said.
The Bechem United president further argued that controversial refereeing decisions can heighten tensions among supporters and, in some cases, contribute to confrontations at match venues.
He therefore called on the GFA to take firm disciplinary action against referees whose performances fall below the required standards.
“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,” Achau stated.
His comments come amid ongoing discussions about refereeing standards, declining match attendance and the financial sustainability of the Ghana Premier League.
For Achau, rebuilding trust in the competition must begin with stronger monitoring, accountability and transparency in the work of referees and match commissioners.
Bechem United will open their 2026/27 Ghana Premier League campaign at home against defending champions Bibiani GoldStars at the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park on Sunday, September 6. Kick-off is scheduled for 15:00 GMT.
