Referees need prompt payment to improve officiating, says General Secretary RAG Alex Anning

The General Secretary of the Referees Association of Ghana (RAG), Alex Anning, has backed President John Mahama's concerns over the standard of officiating in Ghanaian football, insisting that prompt payment of referees could help improve performances in the domestic game.

Mahama on Tuesday called for improvements in refereeing standards, describing officiating as a major challenge affecting the growth and competitiveness of Ghanaian football.

He urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and RAG to work together to restore supporters' confidence.

Speaking on Sporty FM, Anning agreed with the President's assessment and argued that regular and timely payment of referees would go a long way towards reducing poor officiating.

"President Mahama said the GFA knows what to do [to stop poor officiating in Ghana football], and one of them is promptly paying the referees," he said.

Anning also questioned whether the GFA has the financial resources to fully professionalise refereeing in Ghana.

According to him, many match officials continue to work part-time because officiating alone does not provide enough financial security.

"If we want to make our referees professional and pull them away from their other professions, it's a matter of cost," he said.

"Can the GFA afford that?"
He maintained that several referees would be willing to become full-time professionals if the necessary financial support was available.

"If the GFA is ready [for referees to quit their other jobs and become full-time professional referees], then there are referees who are also ready," Anning added.

The RAG official also suggested that the association has lost some of its authority in overseeing referees, claiming the GFA now controls disciplinary matters involving match officials.

"It looks like the GFA doesn't want to see the Referees Association of Ghana. After what President Mahama said, the GFA must give RAG the liberty to discipline referees," he said.