Professor Amin Alhassan, Director-General of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), has debunked claims that the state broadcasting network was paid $3 million to cover the 2023 African Games.
Prof. Alhassan stated categorically that GBC earned $105,000 from their coverage and not $3 million, as revealed by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, during his appearance before the Public Accounts Committee.
“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.
He further indicated that GBC was only notified to broadcast the Games about a month before the start.
“The GBC was invited to the table barely one month before the Games.”
Meanwhile, the Minister, during his meeting with the Public Accounts Committee on Monday, August 19, 2024, mentioned that his ministry paid $3 million to GBC to broadcast the games.
“Yes, GBC was the official broadcaster for the 13th All African Games, and I can confirm that full payment has been made to GBC. I can’t remember the exact amount but I know that it is in excess of $3 million,” Mustapha Ussif said.
The minister's revelation sparked a public uproar as many Ghanaians have concerns about the Ministry spending such a whopping amount on broadcasting.
EE/EK