Prophet Kofi Oduro, the head pastor of Alabaster International Ministries, has called out the sports ministry and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) over the $3 million 2023 African Games broadcast deal.

He labelled both parties as heartless, asserting that they swore oaths with the Bible during their meeting with the Public Accounts Committee but lied.

Speaking to his congregation during a service, Kofi Oduro further branded political leaders as wicked and thieving people who do not care about the citizens.

"The last time I was asking, the GBC and the sports ministry were both speaking under oath at the Public Accounts Committee. One said they gave $3 million, the other said they only received $100,000."

"For me, I only want to ask, who is telling the truth? Both are speaking under oath with the Bible. You wake up to go to church with the biggest Bible, yet your minds are filled with wickedness and thievery. You are heartless people. If you are not heartless, people won't give birth on the floor at Korle-Bu. I can call 37 Hospital that I have a patient coming, but they will say they don't have beds available."

Background

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, during his appearance before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), claimed that his ministry paid an excess of $3 million to GBC for the coverage of the 13th African Games.

Contractionary to the minister's claim, Professor Amin Alhassan, Director-General of GBC denied receiving the aforementioned amount indicating that the state broadcaster earned $105,000. 

“I want to state that GBC’s total benefit from the African Games was $105,000. Nothing more was paid to GBC,” he said in an interview with Uniq FM.

Prof. Alhassan's denial triggered a response from the Youth and Sports Ministry. 

In a statement released on Tuesday, August 21, 2024, the Ministry of Youth and Sports offered details of the African Games broadcast rights deal with GBC, indicating that the agreement amounted to $3.6 million.

The Ministry cited that a sum of $2.5 million was paid to GBC in two instalments, while $1 million was paid to a third party upon the instructions of GBC.

"From the total amount, $2.5 million was paid directly to GBC in two tranches: $1 million and $1.5 million on March 13, 2024, and May 22, 2024, respectively. Another amount of $1 million was paid to third parties upon the instructions of GBC, in accordance with the contract," the release explained.
 



EE/EK