The Director General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Prof. Amin Alhassan has denied claims made by the Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif that the state broadcaster was paid an amount of $3 million for covering the All African Games.
The sports minister during the Public Accounts Committee session on Monday, August 19, 2024, disclosed that an over $3 million payment was made to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) for their coverage of the 2024 All African Games, which took place in Accra in March.
Mustapha Ussif made this known when MP for Ningo Prampram, Sam George raised concerns that technicians who worked on the event were yet to be paid.
“You paid GBC in excess of $3 million for coverage of the All-African Games?”, Sam George asked.
Minister Ussif confirmed the payment, stating, “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 it is over $3 million.”
However, Director General of GBC in a response noted that ” GBC received a total benefit of $105,000. Nothing more was paid as benefits to the state broadcaster”.
He also explained that, technicians who worked for GBC during the games were paid GH¢100 on daily basis stressing that the technicians were only paid after auditors confirmed the presence of technicians on location.
The development has since raised concerns with the general public demanding an explanation from the Sports Minister.