Randy Abbey punches holes in sports ministry's statement on $3million GBC saga

Ace Ghanaian broadcaster, Dr. Randy Abbey, has pointed out what he deems a contradiction in the sports ministry's statement regarding a $3 million payment to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) to cover the 13th African Games, hosted by Ghana in March 2024.

The ministry, in a statement, noted that they offered the TV rights to GBC to "build local capacity and leave a legacy."

Speaking on Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV, Randy Abbey questioned how the ministry intended to achieve the aforementioned target in less than a month, especially since GBC outsourced the deal.

"What I want to find out from the minister is that point C. How did the minister expect to achieve that, especially when they also gave us the impression that it's new that GBC was outsourcing the contract? I want to understand this," he quizzed.

He also questioned why GBC accepted the deal while being less equipped and the least beneficiary of the deal.

"If GBC were to appear in Parliament, I also want to find out why they would take a contract of $3 million knowing very well that they don't have the full capacity and that they will be outsourcing 97% of the value of the contract."

Background

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, during his appearance before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), claimed that his ministry paid an excess of $3 million to GBC for the coverage of the 13th African Games.

Contrary to the Minister's claim, Professor Amin Alhassan, Director-General of GBC, denied receiving the aforementioned amount, indicating that the state broadcaster earned $105,000.

“I want to state that GBC’s total benefit from the African Games was $105,000. Nothing more was paid to GBC,” he said in an interview with Uniq FM.

Prof. Alhassan's denial triggered a response from the Youth and Sports Ministry.

In a statement released on Tuesday, August 21, 2024, the Ministry of Youth and Sports offered details of the African Games broadcast rights 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 two 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/EK