A/R referees accuse RAG officials of being selective

Referees and regional executives of Ashanti Region (RAG) have expressed their displeasure at what they described as a “calculated attempt to frustrate referees” in the region.

Speaking to myfinalwhistle.com on condition of anonymity, some of the referees revealed that the promotion to the premier league has not been fair to Ashanti region as compared to other regions.

“They want to centre everything in Accra which is unfair to the development of referees in the country,” the aggrieved referees lamented.

Last season, three referees from the Ashanti region were demoted unjustifiably and were replaced with two referees, compared to Greater Accra Region, which saw more than half a dozen referees promoted.

As at now, there are more than ten centre referees from Accra in the premier league compared to just six from the Ashanti region.

The referees have indicated that the region is doing everything technically possible to churn out good materials for the league but RAG has simply refused to promote such young and excellent referees.

A young referee from the region, Isaac Osei recently received commendation from both the winning and losing teams for an excellent performance in division one league match.

They cited an instance where the region had to resort to militancy before their referee Justice Adu Poku's would be added to this season's list.

They are even more worried for the fact that the vice chairman of RAG who hails from the region and is the immediate past chairman of the region has done little or nothing to help the course of the region due to petty bickering.

"Joe Debrah has disappointed the entire region. All was not well during the electioneering campaign, but we expected that he would put everything aside and work for the interest of all referees in general and Ashanti region in particular but he is yet??? to do that.

"His dislike for Justice Adu Poku in particular is very visible and well documented.''

Another senior referee wondered what criterion would be used to retire referees Osei Agyeman, T. O Kankam and Emmanuel Baah arguing that “ it was done deliberately to pave way for other referees from other regions.”