Cape Coast (C/R) Aug 29,GNA - Ms Christian Churcher, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology has appealed to referees to be fair and firm in handling soccer matches so as to help raise the standard of football in the country.

She also asked them to desist from acts that would bring the name of the Referee Association into disrepute.

Ms Churcher said this when addressing members of the Central Regional Referees Association who are attending a three-day refresher course at the Robert Mensah Sports Stadium at Cape Coast.

She asked them to train harder than before and turn over a new leaf to redeem the image of the Association that has being characterised with series of allegations and bribery by some of their members. Ms Churcher promised to assist the association to complete its 35 million cedi office complex at Cape Coast, which has reached the lintel level.

Ms Churcher accompanied by Mr. Boakye Yiadom, Chairman of the of the Ghana Black Stars Supporters Union later donated five million cedis to the association.

Mr. Michael Atta- Dadzie, Chairman of the Association thanked the Minister for her gesture and promised that members would do well to live up to expectation.

He advised members to live above reproach and warned that any referee caught taking any form of bribe would not be spared.