Sam George Questions ‘Missing’ $3.5M in Sports Ministry’s Payments to GBC for All African Games

The Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George has questioned the whereabouts of the remaining $3.5 million earmarked as payment to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) for the coverage of the 13th All African Games.

According to him, no explanation from the Ministry of Youth and Sports can alter the fact that the contract clearly stipulated that GBC was entitled to $3.6 million for its services.

Speaking to Accra-based Joy News, Sam George whose question stoked the controversy insisted that the contract explicitly states GBC was to receive $3.6 million, with no mention of any third-party involvement. He noted that the obligations outlined in the contract clearly detail the fee and the scope of work to be performed by GBC.

“In fact, in the obligations of the party, it is clear the fee. It is agreed that GBC will provide services in the amount of $3.6 million. It goes on to break all the conditions down and the scope of work.”

“When you read the previous page where the scope of work is in the contract, all the things that we are told third-party’s were contracted to do – the contract says GBC will do same. Now if the contract has been signed between Prof. Amin Alhassan on behalf of GBC and Hon. Mustapha Ussif on behalf of the Ministry of Youth and Sports to pay GBC $3.6 million, have you seen any contract, service level arrangement between GBC and any third-party?”

“Have you seen any contract stipulating what those third parties are offering and how much they are being paid for those services? Have you also seen anything that disputes the fact that the Minister said he paid in excess of $3.6 million,” he asked.

Sam George questioned whether the remaining $3,495,000 was paid directly by the Ministry of Youth and Sports to third parties without GBC’s involvement. He pointed out that GBC’s Director-General, Prof. Amin Alhassan, confirmed that the media house only received $105,000, with documentation to support this claim.

“Will that not be in flagrant disregard of the contract that they signed? And would that not be in contradiction of what the Minister said because the Minister did not say that in excess of 3 million was paid to GBC and sub-contractors? He said it was paid to GBC, he spoke under oath.”

“So if GBC is also saying we only received $105,000, where or who to whom was the $3,495 paid and on what basis,” Mr George asked.

Background

The controversy began when Prof. Amin Alhassan, Director-General of GBC, clarified that the media house received only $105,000, contrary to claims by Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif. The Minister, during a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) session, had asserted that full payment had been made to GBC, amounting to over $3 million.

“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 excess of $3 million,” the Minister said.

In response, Prof. Alhassan stated in an interview on GTV that the payments facilitated by GBC were made to foreign third parties for production services, not for GBC’s benefit. He reiterated that GBC only received $105,000.

Source:newsalertgh.com