“We Received $105K for African Games Coverage, not $3m”– GBC Director challenges Sports Minister

The Director General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Prof. Amin Alhassan, has contested the Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif’s claim that the government paid $3 million to GBC for covering the 2023 African Games. Speaking on Uniq FM, Prof. Alhassan clarified that GBC only received $105,000 for its role in the event, contrary to the Minister’s assertion.

Prof. Alhassan further disclosed that GBC was brought into discussions regarding the Games just one month before they commenced. He emphasized that the $105,000 received was used to cover costs incurred from suspending some of its regular programming during the Games. Prof. Alhassan stated, “I want to state that GBC’s total benefit from the African Games was $105,000. Nothing more was paid to GBC.”

These remarks were made in response to the Sports Minister’s earlier statement before the Public Accounts Committee on August 19, 2024, where he claimed that the government had made a payment of over $3 million to GBC as the official broadcaster for the Games. The Minister’s claim has sparked controversy, with many Ghanaians expressing their surprise at the large sum mentioned.