The Director General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Prof. Amin Alhassan, has refuted the Sports Minister’s assertion that the national broadcaster was paid $3 million for covering the 2023 African Games.
Prof. Alhassan stated that GBC received only $105,000 for its coverage of the Games, held from February to March this year. He explained that this amount was used to cover costs associated with suspending regular programming during the event.
“I want to clarify that GBC’s total benefit from the African Games was $105,000. No additional funds were paid to GBC,” Prof. Alhassan stated in an interview with Uniq FM. He also noted that GBC was only involved in the coverage about a month before the Games commenced.
This response follows a statement by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, who told the Public Accounts Committee on August 19, 2024, that GBC was paid over $3 million for its role as the official broadcaster.
“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 cannot recall the exact amount, but it is in excess of $3 million,” Ussif said.
The discrepancy has sparked controversy, with many Ghanaians expressing concern on social media about the substantial sum claimed by the Minister.