The Divisional Union of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), under the Public Services Workers’ Union (PSWU), has stepped up calls for the Director-General of GBC, Professor Amin Alhassan, to temporarily stand aside as a presidential forensic audit investigates the financial management of the 13th All-African Games and a growing dispute over funds allocated for broadcasting services.
The demand follows growing concerns about transparency and accountability surrounding GBC’s role as the official host broadcaster of the Games, as well as conflicting public statements regarding the amount paid to the Corporation and the amount it was entitled to receive.
President John Dramani Mahama ordered the Auditor-General to conduct a comprehensive forensic audit into the organisation and management of the 13th All-African Games, following the submission of a report by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB). The directive underscores the government’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and the prudent use of public funds.
The audit will cover all financial and operational aspects of the Games, including procurement, expenditure, infrastructure, broadcasting arrangements, and post-event management.
In a letter dated November 25, 2025, the GBC Divisional Union commended President Mahama for ordering the forensic audit, describing the decision as timely and necessary to safeguard public resources and restore public confidence.
Earlier, in a separate letter dated November 19, 2025, and addressed to the Secretary-General of the PSWU, Bernard Adjei, the GBC Divisional Union formally requested that Prof. Alhassan temporarily relinquish his position during the investigation.
The Union argued that the Director-General’s supervisory and administrative involvement in decisions relating to the Games’ coverage and finances could inadvertently influence the audit or create the perception of interference.
It warned that his continued presence at the helm could raise concerns about conflicts of interest and undermine public confidence in the eventual findings.
According to the Union, stepping aside would demonstrate a commitment to ethical standards, accountability, and the protection of GBC’s institutional integrity and the wider public service.
In the same correspondence, the Union stressed that the request was not an allegation of wrongdoing but a governance measure to ensure the independence, credibility, and public acceptance of the audit process.
The Union further explained that principles of natural justice require that individuals connected to matters under investigation should not remain in positions that could influence the process, either directly or indirectly. It noted that GBC management played a central role in the planning and execution of broadcast services for the Games, and that the public dispute over the amount of financial resources allocated to GBC constitutes a red flag that warrants scrutiny.
Six days later, on November 25, 2025, the Public Services Workers’ Union formally endorsed the position of the GBC Divisional Union in a letter to the President. While praising President Mahama for initiating the forensic audit, the PSWU called for its extension to encompass GBC’s general operations.
The PSWU cited multiple petitions it has submitted since March 2025, raising concerns about alleged financial malfeasance, mismanagement, and issues related to land sales and leases at the state broadcaster.
According to the Union, the controversy linked to the All-African Games reinforces the need for a broader and more comprehensive examination of GBC’s financial and administrative systems.
At the centre of the dispute is a contract between the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS) and GBC, dated February 1, 2024, under which the Corporation was appointed the official host broadcaster for the 13th All-African Games.
Under the agreement, GBC was to provide extensive broadcasting services, including live recording, signal distribution, and production from all competition venues, for a total contract sum of $3.6 million.
While the Ministry has publicly stated that the amount was denominated in United States dollars, the Union has pointed to documentation referring to the sum as GH₵3.6 million, a discrepancy that has added to public confusion.
In a press release dated August 20, 2024, the Ministry of Youth and Sports stated that it paid $2.5 million to GBC in two tranches in March and May 2024 and, on the instructions of GBC, paid an additional $1 million to third-party service providers engaged for the broadcast, bringing the total amount accounted for to $3.5 million.
The Ministry also explained that GBC was selected as host broadcaster because its quotation was the lowest and that it relied heavily on outsourced technical services.
On the same day, Prof. Amin Alhassan, in a letter to the Public Accounts Committee, disputed the Ministry’s presentation, stating that GBC’s direct entitlement from the contract was only $105,000.
He explained that GBC lacked the required technical equipment and therefore outsourced production to external companies, with the bulk of the funds intended for those service providers.
A proposed payment schedule dated February 28, 2024, has been cited in support of this position, indicating that while GBC’s allocation was $105,000, significantly larger sums were earmarked for companies including PGS, Quality Media Production S.L., The Production Room, Silicon Productions, and Positive Communication.
Both the Union and GBC management have denied claims that the Corporation itself received more than $3 million for the Games, maintaining that GBC’s share was limited to the $105,000 stated in the proposed payment schedule.
However, concerns have been raised about outstanding payments owed to some production and technical service providers, with GBC reportedly urging the Ministry to expedite their settlement.
The GBC Divisional Union has pledged its full cooperation with investigators and appealed to all stakeholders to support the forensic audit objectively and without prejudice.
The Union described the ongoing audit as a critical step toward restoring public confidence, strengthening accountability, and reinforcing ethical standards within public institutions, particularly GBC, which plays a pivotal role in the coverage of major national and continental events.
