We paid GBC over $3 million for coverage of 2023 African Games – Sports Minister

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif has disclosed that the government paid the national broadcaster, GBC a sum of $3 million for the coverage of the 2023 African Games.

Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee on Monday, August 19, 2024, Mr Ussif said the amount was paid to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) as the official broadcaster for the Games.

This was after he was asked by the MP for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, to share the budget allocated for the coverage.

According to Sam George, some of the technicians who worked during the African Games had claimed that they had still not been paid.

“You had an arrangement with GBC to cover the All African Games. Can you share with this committee how much that coverage was for, and whether payment has been made for same?” the NDC legislator asked.

Responding to the question, Mustapha Ussif said: “Yes, GBC was the official broadcaster for the 13th All African Games, and I can confirm that full payment has been made to GBC. I can’t remember the exact amount but I know that it is in the excess of $3 million.”

The Sports Minister also confirmed that the government owed some 28 hotels for their services rendered during the Games, in response to a question.

He added that some hotels had already been paid and assured the committee that the rest would also be remunerated soon.

Last month, some hoteliers threatened to take legal action against the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) over their failure to pay 80 per cent of the funds owed them after they hosted guests for the 13th African Games in Accra.