Retired Ghanaian referee Thomas Nunoo has revealed that he once rejected and reported a bribery attempt by football administrator Alhaji Karim Grusah during his active officiating career.
Speaking in an interview with Asempa FM, Nunoo—who currently serves as a CAF and FIFA instructor—said the incident occurred ahead of a Ghana Premier League fixture, when Grusah allegedly tried to influence his decisions.
Nunoo explained that he immediately reported the matter to the Premier League Board (PLB), which at the time was chaired by Welbeck Abra-Appiah, stressing that integrity was non-negotiable throughout his career.
“During my days of officiating games, I never accepted a bribe or allowed myself to be compromised,” Nunoo stated.
“The only person who tried to influence me by bribing me was Alhaji Grusah. I reported him to the Premier League Board, which was chaired by Welbeck Abra-Appiah. He got angry because his club eventually lost the match, and we later argued about it on radio,” he added.
The former referee used the opportunity to advise current match officials to remain resolute in the face of pressure and to report any attempts by club officials or administrators to sway their decisions.
“I will urge all referees to be firm and not to accept any bribe or compromise from anyone,” Nunoo said.
“You can accept whatever an administrator wants to offer, but you must go ahead and report the person to the Football Association.”
Nunoo’s comments come at a time when refereeing standards have come under intense scrutiny in the ongoing 2025/26 Ghana Premier League, with several stakeholders raising concerns over inconsistent officiating and calling for stronger oversight and accountability within the system.
