Ghana Youth Minister Defends $3 Million Payment to GBC for African Games Broadcast Amid Dispute

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, on Monday, revelaed that his outfit paid the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) a little over $3m to broadcast the African Games 2023.

GBC, through its Director-General, Prof. Amin Alhassan, denied the claims made by the Minister when he appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), stating that the state broadcaster's benefit out of the amount was $105,000 and that the rest of the money was paid to third parties.

Mr Ussif in a statement Tuesday evening, stated categorically that $2.5m of the contract sum was paid directly to GBC on March 13, 2024, and May 22, 2024, respectively.

The remaining $1m was paid to third parties upon the instructions of GBC.

Here is the detailed contract signed between Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) on February 1, 2024, for the event as sighted by JoySports.

Mustapha Ussif signed on behalf of the Sports Ministry, witnessed by Chief Director, William Kartey, while Prof. Amin Alhassan signed for GBC, witnessed by its Director of Legal Service, John kwame Waja.

Full contract below as sighted by JoySports:

AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS (MOYS)

AND

GHANA BROADCASTING CORPORATION

(GBC)

.2024.

THIS AGREEMENT is made this. 01...day of ..FEBRUARY 2024
BETWEEN
THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS of Government of the Republic of Ghana
With its Head Office situated at Accra acting by its Minister, Mr. Mustapha Ussif
(Hereinafter referred to as the "MOYS", which expression shall where the context so
Requires or admits include its lawful representatives, assigns and successors) of the OTHER PART

AND

GHANA BROADCASTING CORPORATION, a Statutory Corporation established
Under the Laws of Ghana with its offices at Broadcasting House, Kanda, Accra and
Whose postal address is P. 0. Box GP 1633, Accra acting by its Director-General, Prof.
Amin Alhassan [hereinafter called the "GBC," which expression shall where the
Context so requires or admits include its successors and assigns] of the ONE PART

WHEREAS:

The Ministry of Youth and Sports is the Official host of the 13th African Games.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports has appointed GBC as the host broadcaster for the 13th African Games.

Under the arrangement with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the GBC would provide
One dedicated 24-hour channel for the Broadcasts of the 13th African Games.

THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSES AS FOLLOWS:

SCOPE

GBC shall provide all services, personnel and equipment needed for the below.

Broadcast management - Live recording and broadcast of the event

• International Broadcast Centre

• Production of Games from all venues as in the attached appendix A

• Montages, bumpers, Video Promos and other relevant creatives for the Event

• Signal distribution

The following services and technical features are also included:

• The live recording and broadcast of the Opening and Closing ceremonies

• A seven to ten hours of a daily super feed for live broadcast and playback

• Satellite Space segment and Turnaround

• Editorial management crew

• A one hour daily African Games round-up programme

• Provide and manage the team of commentators for the live broadcast

To ensure a world class broadcast of the AG2023, GBC shall ensure that it's team of
reporters and journalist are trained around the broadcast of the Games. This shall be a
legacy of the African Games 2023.

TERM

This agreement shall be for the period of the African games from 3rd March 2024-28th March 2024.

OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES
FEES

It is agreed that GBC would provide services in the amount of $3.600,000.00.

1. That the MOYS is solely responsible for the payment of the service provided.

2. That the MOYS would transfer the cedi equivalent of the cash component to the GBC for payment.

3. That where there arise any differences as a result of foreign exchange conversion, in the transfer of the funds from MOYS to GBC, MOYS would be notified to make up the differences.

4. That the MOYS would provide funding for any incidental cost incurred in the course of the Broadcasts of the Games.

1. SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES

a. The Parties shall endeavor to to amicably settle any disputes and misunderstandings which may arise in connection with this Agreement. 

b. In the event that the Parties fail to settle amicably, a Party may opt for arbitration. Provided however, that the exercise of a Party's option for arbitration shall be with the written consent of the other Party. 

c. The Arbitration shall be done in accordance with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010 (Act 798) or any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force. 

d. The place of Arbitration shall be Accra, Ghana and the language of Arbitration shall be English. 

e. Where a Party wishes to commence court proceedings over any claim or matter arising under or in connection with this Agreement, each Party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Commercial Courts of Ghana.

2. APPLICABLE LAW

This Agreement shall be governed by the Laws of Ghana.

3. ASSIGNMENT

The MOYS shall not assign any benefit or interest hereunder to a third party without the written consent of GBC and such consent if given shall not relieve the MOYS from any obligation under this Agreement.

4. NOTICE

Any notice required or permitted under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sufficiently served if delivered by hand or sent by prepaid registered mail to the respective parties as follows:

IN THE CASE OF THE MOYS:

NAME: MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS

POSTAL ADDRESS: MINISTRIES, ACCRA

 ATTN: THE HONOURABLE MINISTER

IN THE CASE OF GBC:

 NAME: GBC

POSTAL ADDRESS: P.O. BOX 1633, Accra 

ATTN: DIRECTOR-GENERAL

APPENDIX A

VENUES

University of Ghana Stadium

Achimota Cricket Pitch

Accra Sports Stadium

Theodosia Okoh Hockey Pitch

SSNIT Emporium

Laboma Beach

Cape Coast sports stadium

Borteyman Sports Complex