The Gambian-owned business boosted the state television with D5,750,000 to be able to purchase AFCON broadcast rights for the live streaming of all Scorpions games. This came after the GSM operator signed over D20,000,000 partnership agreement with the National Coordinating Committee (NCC) tasked with the financing of this important international competition.
Lamin Queen Jammeh, Minister for Information, underscored the importance of the sponsorship while describing it as a historic event that has enabled his Ministry through the national broadcaster to fulfil one of the fundamental obligations of the government by providing timely, accurate and relevant information to Gambians.
He stated that Barrow’s administration takes people centred development as the core value by providing development to the people in needy areas. Because of these reasons, he pointed out, the government has an obligation and couldn’t shy away from providing this opportunity to Gambians to watch AFCON matches through the media houses in the country.
“I initially felt frustrated when the cost came because it was so high that I asked the GRTS DG if they would be able to air the games on national television,” he said. “As we were in negotiation, fortunately for us, we have to thank the intervention of the executive, especially the president and his vice who took it personally to interact with the relevant bodies by ensuring that we jointly take up the AFCON as a matter of national duty.”
It was in this spirit, he added, that they received QCell coming up with an excellent offer and providing an option, which has finally put them on safe land.
Muhammed Jah, Chief Executive Officer of QGroup, explained that as a Gambian company, they believe in the Sunubuss concept, saying the support is part of the mission of making the country proud and great.
He reiterated that AFCON is one of those events that galvanise the whole country, as AFCON brings everyone together irrespective of tribes or political affiliations.
“This will be The Gambia’s second appearance at AFCON and it demonstrates that we are moving on the ladder in terms of sport and ranking,” he said optimistically. “We believe that our goal is not to stop at AFCON but to reach the World Cup.”
Jah further highlighted that QCell has had a long-standing partnership with GRTS well before QTV was established, adding that such an excellent relationship will continue to be strengthened. The two televisions are not competitors but partners in development, he wisely stated.
He said further that QTV is not a sensational media house and their main objective is to portray the positive image of The Gambia, adding that they want to give people hope because life is about hope and the media is a catalyst for that.
“If you decide to have a negative media, people wouldn’t have hope and would live in sadness every day, which is not the essence of living,” he reasoned, saying: “I take the opportunity to thank GRTS for the great job for the nation. We want to forge a bigger partnership because we both have the objective to educate, sensitize and entertain the public on the daily happenings of the country.”
The partnership for the AFCON rights is a great step in the positive direction, he stated, promising more of such a partnership.
Abdoulie Sey, Director General of GRTS, also stated that the AFCON rights are costly and challenging, saying The Gambia has qualified and everyone expects GRTS to show the games but “it’s not easy”.
“To get the right involves a lot of money but we thank God during our struggles to negotiate with the right holders, the government gathered all partners to do something with us,” he commended, saying: “The Minister of Information has been trying since the beginning to make so we get things done.”
DG Sey added that GRTS and QTV would show all the AFCON matches, reiterating that QTV and GRTS “are never rivals”; they are rather demonstrating their shared objectives, which are to promote and protect the image of the country.
