By Patrick Akoto
A leading member of the Ghana Football Association has made a serious allegation that the going rate for bribing referees in Ghana to influence results of league matches is US$5,000 per match.
Winfred Osei Parma, who is a member of the GFA's highest body the Executive Committee, claims the cedi equivalent of  8,000 Cedis is demanded by if the dollars are unavailable.
The controversial figure in the country's game made the emphatic claim on a radio station in Accra insisting he is aware of the bribery taking hold in the local league.
Parma claims he is privy to classified information that suggests that referees took between $5,000 and 80,000 Ghana Cedis from teams with the huge financial muscle in deciding the outcome of a game.
“This is an open secret and some of the referees have confirmed it to me,†Osei told Asempa FM.
"The normal rate for bribing referees to influence the outcome of the game is about US$5,000 or 80,000 Ghana Cedis.
"We who are unable to afford this rate are doomed to failure and the rich teams will be able to influence the results."
Parma has been condemned in many quarters for concealing information of bribery when he has the power to enforce changes within the country's governing body.
Others have also accused him of complicity in the matter as he failed to expose bribery and corruption.
The serious allegation is likely to attract the attention of the Ethics Committee who may haul the outspoken football administrator before it to substantiate his claims.
Reports of corruption and bribery in Ghana football have been very rampant but action to tackle these canker by higher authorities have not been forthcoming.