In a perplexing turn of events, conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the payment made by the Ministry of Youth and Sports to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) for broadcasting the 13th All African Games. What initially seemed like a straightforward financial transaction has now become a matter of public debate, with both the Ministry and GBC presenting different figures.
During a meeting with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday, August 19, 2024, the Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, revealed that his ministry had paid GBC over $3 million for its role as the official broadcaster of 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,” Ussif stated. His comments immediately sparked public outcry, with many Ghanaians questioning the Ministry’s decision to spend such a significant sum on broadcasting.
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However, just days after the Minister’s statement, Professor Amin Alhassan, the Director-General of GBC, challenged the claim, stating that the state broadcaster had only received $105,000 for its coverage of the Games. In an interview with Uniq FM, Prof. Alhassan categorically refuted the Minister’s assertion, saying, “I want to state that GBC’s total benefit from the African Games was $105,000. Nothing more was paid to GBC.” He further clarified that GBC was only notified about its broadcasting role a month before the Games began, which added another layer of complexity to the issue.
Amid the growing confusion, the Ministry of Youth and Sports issued a detailed clarification on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, providing a comprehensive breakdown of the payments made to GBC. According to the Ministry, the total agreed amount for GBC’s broadcasting services was $3.6 million. Out of this amount, $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 Ministry further explained that an additional $1 million was paid directly to third-party service providers at GBC’s request, in line with the contractual agreement.
The Ministry also revealed that the decision to select GBC as the official broadcaster was influenced by its relatively lower financial quotation compared to other proposals received, some of which exceeded $6 million. This decision was part of a broader strategy to build local capacity and ensure a lasting legacy from the Games.
Despite these clarifications, the discrepancy between the Ministry’s figures and GBC’s claims remains unresolved, leaving the public to wonder: Who is telling the truth? The Ministry insists that all financial transactions were conducted with the highest level of integrity, but the stark difference in the reported amounts raises questions that have yet to be fully answered. As the debate continues, the need for transparency and accountability in public financial dealings is underscored more than ever.
