StarTimes pays part of television rights deal, Premier League clubs get $5,000 each

Ghana Premier League has been boosted by a windfall from television rights holder StarTimes as each club in the top-flight has received $5,000 as part payment of the rights deal.

The money comes as a massive boost for the 18 clubs in the top-flight in these hard times with the effect of the lack of activity biting negatively affecting the finances of clubs in Ghana.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has sent a notice to clubs that part of their much-needed sponsorship deal money with the Chinese broadcasters has been received.

The bank accounts of clubs have been credited with $5,000 at a time that they are struggling to pay the salaries of their players when they have been inactive for nearly one month.

Football matches in the country have been postponed indefinitely because of the government's order to prevent social gathering to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus disease.

Chairman of Bechem United Kingsley Osei Bonsu, who is also an Executive Council member of the GFA, confirmed that the GFA has told his his club about the $5,000 from StarTimes.

"As a chairman of Bechem United, I received a message from the GFA's General Secretary, Lawyer Prosper Harrison Addo that Startimes have paid part of their sponsorship deal into our (FA's) account," Lord Zico told OTEC Fm.

"Is true there is something like that {we've received such an amount} and am sure once I have been informed, the General Secretary will, therefore, inform all the clubs."

The Ghana Football Association announced the pay-TV operators as winners of the bid on 8 January, 2020.

The Chinese pay-tv operators emerged winners of the competitive bidding process after the GFA accepted their offer, which was the best among other bids.

StarTimes will sign a five-year agreement with the GFA worth $5.25m US Dollars to be the exclusive Television Rights owner of the Ghana Premier League and the FA Cup with immediate effect.