Vice President backs GBC to secure sponsorship for Afcon 2012

Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday held a meeting with government and private corporate businesses to seek sponsorship for the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GTV) to telecast all matches of the forthcoming African Cup of Nations.

The National Broadcaster, which has won the rights to telecast all the matches from Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, would need a total of two million Euros to ably accomplish the task, hence the crash mobilization effort to help GTV live up to the bill.

Vice President Mahama said although GTV had won the rights and would be the lead sponsor, other local television stations would have to acquire their rights from the national broadcaster to telecast the Afcon proceedings so as not to be in breach of the laws.

Volta River Authority, State Insurance Corporation and Ghana Oil Company Limited were some of the Public organisations that were at the meeting, while Melcom Ghana, Guinness Ghana Limited, Omatek Ghana, Globacom Ghana, Airtel Ghana, MTN Ghana and Vodafone Ghana were some of the private companies that represented the private sector.

Vice President Mahama said the last time Ghana lifted the continental trophy was 30 years ago and it was therefore expedient to mobilise more resources to support the Black Stars to come back with the ultimate prize.

He said sports has become an important vehicle for advertisements and hoped that tremendous support to the National Network would bring about mutual benefits for both the station and sponsors through the intermittent running of commercials on the network.

Mr Berfi Appenteng, Managing Director of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation said his outfit had categorized the benefits of the sponsorship deal and is encouraging the companies to partner them for better returns in the month-long competition.

He promised to hold in-depth meetings with the sponsors for them to agree with all the terms and conditions for the benefit of all in the tournament.

Mr Appenteng said it was not late to get involved since Ghana will start the competition on January 24 in their opener against Botswana.

Source: GNA