Retired referee George Kwaku Manu says he disagrees with assertions that poor officiating has bedeviled the local league, which is a major contributing factor for the growing disinterest in the Ghana Premier League.

Ghana’s top tier league is witnessing poor turnout in terms of supporters who throng the various match centers to patronize the local league, a development that is rendering the local clubs financially handicapped.

Luv FM and Nhyira FM have launched a radio campaign to highlight factors affecting low attendance at premier league matches and champion recommendations to improve patronage of the local league.

According to some football enthusiasts, the deplorable nature of Ghana’s match venues, economic challenges, and high ticket pricing are some factors that have occasioned the poor attendance at the various stadia in Ghana.

Others also think, Ghanaian referees have failed to improve the local league due to bad officiating and that has contributed to the doldrum nature of Ghana’s top flight league.

Speaking to Richard Smith Donkor in an interview with Nhyira FM in Kumasi, referee G.K. Manu stressed that everyone within the football ecosystem is complicit in the situation.

He disagrees with the assertion that poor officiating drives poor stadium attendance.

“You cannot get 100% on the field of play, only Jesus Christ was faultless. We are human beings and I cannot say we are perfect.

“All of us are not helping in certain ways and I disagree with those who say, referees are the reason supporters don’t come to the stadium.

“Look at Europe, most of the referees’ decisions are bad and they even have VAR.

“But in Ghana, only the premier centers have communication gadgets, what about Division One? No communication gadgets?” he quizzed.

The hashtag for the campaign is #FillGPLCenters.