Referees in Ghana can’t stop taking bribes – Awudu Issaka

Former Ghana International Awudu Issaka has suggested that the endemic bribery and corruption in the Ghana Premier League will take a miracle to eradicate because all the culprits involved are unwilling to accept wrongdoing and put a stop to the canker.

Awudu Issaka, who was once upon a time a household name in Ghana football claims, unless and until club administrators stop influencing referees to officiate in their favour, the work of the newly formed FIFA/CAF Normalization Committee will amount to nothing.

He also alluded to the poor remuneration of referees as a major reason why it will be almost impossible for referees to accept gifts and bribes from officials, especially the home teams prior to games.

Speaking on Accra based Asempa FM, Awudu Issaka said “We have to be honest with ourselves and lower our expectation of the Normalization Committee. I say this because there is no way that the bribery in Ghana Football will stop. It will never stop because club officials are not ready to stop and the referees are also poorly paid to the extent that they need to depend on the gifts that home clubs offer them.”

Awuda Issaka also confessed that as a retired footballer who now runs a lower division side, he is sometimes compelled to be accommodating and nice to referees assigned to his games because he feels pity for them.

“Sometimes I give the referees who officiate in my games appreciation fee, and I don’t see it as a bribe. It doesn’t matter whether I lose the game or win, I still give them because I know how poorly they are paid.”

Officiating in the Ghana League has been in the spotlight following the exposé by ace investigator Anas Aremeyaw Anas which reveled wanton corrupting in the Ghanaian game.

In the over one hour exposé, several referees were seen receiving bribes before and after crucial games to influence the result.

The aftermath of the exposé has led to the suspension and dismissal of over 70 Ghanaian referees.