GFA count cost of Gateway collapse

Ghana football is counting the cost of Gateway Broadcasting’s collapse that came with a loss of television revenue for local clubs.

Gateway was paying Ghana’s top clubs in excess of 30,000 dollars each a month to show live games and highlight programs but collapse under what it says was the world economic meltdown last Friday.

It means the Ghana Football Association must move fast to find alternative sources of television revenue for the premier division clubs and give the Ghana league the international exposure it has lacked.

“The collapse of Gateway was unexpected,” GFA president Kwesi Nyantekyie told KickOffGhana.com.

“We were into the second year of a three-year contract with them so the news hit us like a blow. It has jolted our planning and financial management. It’s a big blow from the FA’s position and a huge disappointment.”

Gateway paid the GFA 750,000 dollars for the first year of the deal and had made part payment on a 1million dollar deal for the second year before the collapse.

Nyantekyie says the GFA will move quickly to find a new sponsor and continue to give the Ghana the exposure that it requires.

“The presence of Gateway provided a very goof platform for us to advertise Ghana football. There was a growing interest in Ghana and that impacted positively on players and the game as a whole.

“Now we have to discusss the legal way forward and see our rights under the contract and find a new sponsor as quickly as possible.”