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We were not paid $3million for 13th African Games – GBC refutes Sports Minister’s claim

The Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif during a Public Account Committee hearing yesterday, August 19, said, the official broadcaster of the 13th African Games, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation was paid over $3 million for its coverage.

Responding to a question from Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, the minister said “GBC was the official broadcaster for the 13th African Games and I can confirm that full payment has been made.”

He further added that “I can recollect the exact amount, but I know that it is in excess of $3 million dollars for their coverage of the African games.”

However, in a sharp rebuttal, the Director General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Prof. Amin Alhassan, has refuted the assertions made by the Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif.

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According to Prof Amin GBC only received $105,000, adding that his outfit was only brought into the discussions just one month before the event.

In an interview with the State broadcaster, he said“I think yesterday I was one of those who was shocked to learn that the minister of youth and sports said that they had paid GBC in excess of $3 million and I want to assure every Ghanaian and the public that GBC’s total benefit from the African Games was $105,000 us dollars equivalent.”

He added that “Nothing more was paid as a benefit to GBC. And that payment was as support for the fact that we dedicated an entire channel 24 hours. We suspended normal programming for the GTV Sports+ and dedicated it to the All African games. And for our role as the official broadcaster. that is what the GBC was paid and not in excess of $3 million.”

“When you suspend a channel’s normal programming, there is an opportunity cost, so it’s used to offset the cost of the channel not doing regular programming. So there is a loss of business. So it’s important to point out that when you take an entire channel 24 hours for two weeks, it comes at a cost, and that was what the money was for. So it was for our revenue. $105,000 and not in excess of 3 million dollars,”Prof.  Amin Alhassan further explained.

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By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme

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High Court issues bench warrant for disputed Akwatia MP following contempt conviction

A Koforidua High Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Ernest Yaw Kumi, the presumed winner of the Akwatia parliamentary seat in the Eastern region, after convicting him of contempt of court.

The court issued the bench warrant for Kumi’s arrest after he failed to attend court.

The conviction comes after he disobeyed an interim injunction against him on January 7, prohibiting him from being sworn in and admitted as the Member of Parliament-elect for the Akwatia constituency due to an ongoing legal contest over his election.

Mr Kumi presented himself in Parliament to be sworn in on January 7, 2025.

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The Judge, Justice Senyo Amedahe held that the convict, throughout the hearing of the contempt case, failed to appear in court in person.

He also rejected a letter from the minority side of Parliament claiming the MP was busy with parliamentary duties, hence his continuous absence from court.

The judge rejected the letter, insisting he would be going against his own ruling should he accept the letter from the minority caucus.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

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Asset declaration is good, but lifestyle audit is key among public officials – Domelevo to Mahama

Former Auditor General Daniel Yaw Domelevo has commended President John Mahama for declaring his assets but stressed the need for a lifestyle audit to effectively curb corruption among public officials.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, February 18, he acknowledged the President’s move as a “good gesture” but raised concerns about the process.

“It is good to see that the President has declared his assets,” he said.

According to him, “I was not too happy seeing the envelope being given to the Auditor General because that goes more or less to support what people have all along been saying—that you put your declaration in an envelope, seal it, and give it to the Auditor General, which is not the case anyway.”

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“This should have gone through the entire process so that they capture it because you are supposed to verify the signature and be sure that the form has been properly completed. That at least should have been done, but it was not done,”he said.

While appreciating President Mahama’s directive for his appointees and public office holders to declare their assets by March 31, Domelevo expressed reservations about the timeline.

“To be honest with you, I think March 31 is too far away because the Constitution provides that it should be declared before you take office,” he argued.

He added that “Some will argue that Act 550 allows six months, but Act 550 contradicts the Constitution. I have a letter in my possession, written by former Attorney General Gloria Akuffo, confirming that the provisions of subsection 4(1) of Act 550 contradict the Constitution. However, we have all been upholding and following that.”

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Daniel Domelevo was particularly pleased with Mahama’s commitment to hold non-compliant officials accountable.

“I’m also happy the President says those who don’t declare are going to be punished or asked to leave office. I think that will cut across everybody, and that will be good,” he stated.

However, the former Auditor General stated that asset declaration alone is insufficient in tackling corruption.

“This declaration is good. We must add to it what we call a lifestyle audit and the reversal of the burden of proof,” Mr Domelevo insisted.

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“If we don’t do these two things so that we can audit and find out ‘how did you get this money?’, people are going to hide their resources or their assets with their families and friends. Everybody who is suspected of being an ally of a political or public office holder must be subjected to a lifestyle audit,” he concluded.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

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