StarTimes, the pay-television broadcaster in sub-Saharan Africa, has made a partial payment to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) as part of its rights deal for the top-tier Premier League as it looks to support clubs during the Covid-19 crisis.

StarTimes acquired rights to the Ghana Premier League and FA Cup in January  as part of a new five-year, $5.25m (€4.9m) deal that also includes the second-tier Division One and Women’s Premier League and FA Cup matches.

The deal was signed a little over a month after StarTimes and the Ghana Football Association agreed to mutually terminate an existing deal for the same properties. That deal was signed in 2017 and would have been worth $18m over its lifespan.

The GFA has now announced that each club in the 18-team Premier League will receive $5,000 from StarTimes. It comes with the season having been suspended to limit the spread of Covid-19 in the country.

Oppong Evans, communications director at GPL side Aduana Stars, told Modernghana Sports: “The FA sent as a message last Monday confirming the receipt of an amount of from StarTimes of which an amount of $5,000 has been deposited to our club account as part of the sponsorship money. We can confirm to you that yes, of course, the amount is in. Our accountant has also confirmed it to us.”

Clubs are contracted to receive $30,000 each per season as part of the deal between StarTimes and the GFA.

StarTimes reclaimed rights to the Premier League ahead of six other bidders. Rival pay-television broadcaster SuperSport, which previously held GFA rights for a three-year spell between 2013 and 2016,did not bid.