Sports Ministry Defends $3 Million Payment to GBC Amidst Public Outcry Over African Games Broadcast
The Ministry of Youth and Sports has taken steps to address growing concerns surrounding the payment of over $3 million to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) for the production and broadcast of the 13th African Games held in Accra. During a recent session with the Public Accounts Committee on August 19, 2024, Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif confirmed the payment, which was initially met with surprise and skepticism.
The controversy deepened when GBC’s Director General, Prof. Amin Alhassan, clarified that GBC itself only retained $105,000 from the payment, with the rest allocated to third-party contractors. This statement raised public questions about the transparency and purpose of the funds.
In a detailed press release, the Sports Ministry clarified the matter further. The Ministry explained that they had entered into a contract with GBC worth $3.6 million, primarily due to GBC’s competitive financial quotation and the Ministry’s desire to build local capacity. However, due to GBC’s limited capacity to fully handle the production, third-party services were engaged as per the agreement.
The Ministry revealed that of the total amount, $2.5 million was disbursed to GBC in two tranches—$1 million on March 13, 2024, and $1.5 million on May 22, 2024. An additional $1 million was paid directly to third parties involved in the production under the guidance of GBC. Despite these payments, a $100,000 discrepancy remains unaccounted for, further fueling the debate on the management of funds.
The Ministry emphasized that as a public institution, they are committed to transparency and accountability, assuring the public that all financial transactions were conducted with integrity in accordance with their mandate.
Statement below 👇:
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