The Ministry of Youth and Sports has clarified the financial arrangements with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) for its role as the official broadcaster of the 13th African Games, which were held in Accra earlier this year.
The clarification follows controversy sparked by remarks from Minister for Youth and Sports Mustapha Ussif during a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) session on August 19, 2024. Ussif claimed that the Ministry paid GBC over US$3 million for its production and broadcasting services.
This statement was made in response to MP Samuel Nartey George’s concerns about unpaid debts to technical staff involved in the event.
In contrast, GBC Director General Prof.
Amin Alhassan publicly disputed the minister’s claim, stating that GBC had received only US$105,000.
This amount was intended to support GBC’s decision to dedicate an entire channel to the Games and suspend regular programming on GTV Sports Plus.
In response to the discrepancy, the Ministry of Youth and Sports issued a press release on August 20, 2024, detailing the financial arrangements with GBC.
The Ministry explained that several proposals for the production and broadcasting rights were received, some exceeding US$6 million, which were considered excessive.
To build local capacity and ensure a lasting legacy, the Ministry chose GBC as the official broadcaster, citing GBC’s most competitive financial quotation.
The total agreed amount for GBC’s services was US$3.6 million. US$2.5 million was paid directly to GBC in two installments: US$1 million on March 13, 2024, and US$1.5 million on May 22, 2024.
The remaining US$1 million was paid to third-party service providers on GBC’s instructions, which aligns with the contractual agreement.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to transparency and integrity, assuring that all financial transactions were conducted with the highest level of accountability.
