Ministry of Youth and Sports Clarifies Payments to GBC for 13th African Games Broadcast

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has issued a detailed statement addressing the controversy surrounding payments made to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) for its role as the official broadcaster of the 13th African Games held in Accra earlier this year.

The clarification follows a dispute sparked by remarks made by the Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, during a session with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday, August 19, 2024. During the session, the Minister disclosed that over $3 million had been paid to GBC for its production and broadcasting services for the Games. This statement was in response to a question from Ningo Prampram MP, Samuel Nartey George, who had raised concerns about unpaid dues to technical staff who worked on the event.

However, Prof. Amin Alhassan, the Director-General of GBC, quickly countered the Minister’s claim, stating that the broadcaster had only received $105,000. According to him, this amount was intended as financial support for GBC’s decision to dedicate its GTV Sports Plus channel exclusively to the African Games, temporarily halting regular programming.

In light of the conflicting accounts, the Ministry issued a press release on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, offering a comprehensive breakdown of the financial arrangements involved in the broadcast deal.

According to the Ministry, several proposals were received from various stakeholders concerning the production and broadcast rights for the 13th African Games. Some of these proposals exceeded $6 million, which the Ministry found excessive. Ultimately, GBC was selected as the official broadcaster due to its lower financial quotation and the Ministry’s objective to enhance local capacity while leaving a lasting legacy beyond the Games.

“The Ministry of Youth and Sports, through the Local Organising Committee, received proposals from multiple stakeholders regarding production and broadcasting rights for the 13th African Games,” the statement read. “Some proposals exceeded $6 million, which the Ministry considered excessive.”

The Ministry clarified that the total agreed cost for GBC’s services was $3.6 million. Out of this amount, $2.5 million was directly paid to GBC in two installments: $1 million on March 13, 2024, and $1.5 million on May 22, 2024. An additional $1 million was disbursed directly to third-party service providers as per GBC’s instructions, in accordance with the contractual terms.

“Of the agreed $3.6 million, $2.5 million was paid directly to GBC in two installments—$1 million on March 13, 2024, and $1.5 million on May 22, 2024. The remaining $1 million was paid to third parties following GBC’s instructions, in line with the contract,” the Ministry’s release explained.

The Ministry further reiterated its commitment to transparency and accountability, emphasizing that all financial transactions were conducted with the utmost integrity and adherence to established protocols.

Source: GhanaFeed.Com