Director-General, GBC Dr. Kwame Akuffo Anoff-Ntow
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) is appealing to the National Media Commission (NMC) to, as a matter of urgency, intervene in the developments at Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) [ads1]and recall the Director-General from leave.
They are, however, dismayed by recent developments at GBC in which the Board of Directors have asked the Director-General, Dr Kwame Akuffo Anoff-Ntow, to proceed on leave over the TV license brouhaha.
According to them in a press statement, after thorough investigation and appreciation of the issues at stake, the GJA believes the decision by the GBC Board was absolutely wrong because it does not wield the power to do so.
The statement said, in the decision by the board has generated a lot of anxiety not only among staff of the national broadcaster, but also the general public.
Quoting Article 168 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, vests the power to appoint the chairmen and other members of the governing bodies of the state-owned media in the National Media Commission (NMC) and by virtue of that constitutional mandate, the NMC is the only body seised with the power to alter the appointment of the chairmen and members of the governing bodies of the state-owned media.
“In the circumstances, the acts of commission or omission of the Director-General in the discharge of his official duties do not by themselves strip the NMC of its constitutional authority in such respect; neither do they cloth the GBC Board or any other body with authority to do likewise” it said.
Again, “Similarly, the GJA does not think it is within the realm of the GBC Board to appoint an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to perform the functions of the Director-General”.
That amounts to usurpation of the NMC’s constitutional mandate. By acting before officially consulting the NMC on this matter, as has been verified, the GBC Board appears to have put the cart before the horse”.
GJA however stated categorically that it is unacceptable because it has the potential to give their constitutional democracy, particularly the functions of the NMC a rough-ride.
Meanwhile they are appealing to the NMC to, as a matter of urgency, intervene in the developments at GBC and recall the Director-General from leave.
“The NMC, as an independent constitutional body, has the prerogative to take its own decisions and “shall not be subject to the direction or control of any person or authority in the performance of its functions”, as provided in Article 172 of the 1992 Constitution”.
The GJA calls for calm at GBC in the face of the current developments and urges management and staff of the state broadcaster to focus on its core business of serving the interests of the state.
It is our fervent belief that the dust will soon settle on the matter.