African Games $3m Coverage Deal: I will summon everyone involved - Sam George vows

Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, has vowed to ensure that the Sports Ministery's $3 million African Games coverage contract with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) is well accounted for by summoning all institutions and individuals involved.

Sam George's assertion comes in reaction to GBC's Director General, Professor Amin Alhassan's claim that the state broadcasting network earned $105,000 and not $3 million $3 million, as revealed by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif at Public Account Committee sitting on Monday, August 19, 2024.

The MP, who was on the committee, in a lengthy post on Twitter (formerly X) asked where the remainder of the $3m is and who was the major beneficiary of the deal while claiming he has evidence to expose those involved.

"Yesterday at the Public Accounts Cttee hearings, I asked the Minister for Sports a direct question about GBC's involvement and payments for the 13th All Africa Games. He replied that they had paid GBC in excess of US$3 million," he wrote.

"Today, the GBC has issued a statement that they only received US$105,000. So where is the rest of the money? Who was it paid to? And the GBC claims it has paid all its staff who worked on the All African Games. I have evidence to the contrary," he added.

He then affirmed that he would ensure everyone involved in the deal duly accounts for $3 million.

"I would follow this matter up including summoning the GBC Management, the Ministry of Information and the Minister for Youth and Sports before both PAC and the Communications Committee of Parliament to get to the bottom of the matter."

Meanwhile, in a statement released on Tuesday, August 21, 2024, the Ministry of Youth and Sports offered details of the African Games broadcast right deal with GBC, indicating that the agreement amounted to $3.6 million.

The Ministry cited that a sum of $2.5 million was paid to GBC in instalments while $1 million was paid to a third party upon the instructions of GBC.

"From the total amount, $2.5 million was paid directly to GBC in two tranches: $1 million and $1.5 million on March 13, 2024, and May 22, 2024, respectively. Another amount of $1 million was paid to third parties upon the instructions of GBC, in accordance with the contract," the release explained.

EE

Yesterday at the Public Accounts Cttee hearings, I asked the Minister for Sports a direct question about GBC's involvement and payments for the 13th All Africa Games. He replied that they had paid GBC in excess of US$3million.

Today, the GBC has issued a statement that they… pic.twitter.com/QYBC6MvinP

— Sam 'Dzata' George 🦁🇬🇭 (@samgeorgegh) August 20, 2024