The Divisional Union of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) has again petitioned the newly constituted National Media Commission (NMC), demanding urgent action over what it describes as the inappropriate continued occupation of the Director-General’s office by Professor Amin Alhassan, whose four-year tenure officially ended on October 1, 2023.
In the petition dated July 21, 2025, and addressed to NMC Chairperson, Professor Akua Biritwum, the Union reminded the Commission that this was their fourth petition on the matter.
The petition was copied to the Chief of Staff, the Office of the President, the Minister for Government Communication, the Chairman of GBC’s Board, the Director-General himself, and top executives of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Public Services Workers Union (PSWU).
The Union emphasized the legal and operational risks posed by Professor Alhassan’s continued decision-making, stressing that such actions have no legitimacy and could have far-reaching consequences for the Corporation. “This remains our firm position,” the Union stated.
Supporting their claim, the Union referenced a letter dated March 14, 2025, from the Controller and Accountant Generals Department, which invoked Section 25(5) of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921).
The letter noted that any financial commitments relating to staffing, including the appointment of a Director-General, must be subject to clearance by the Minister and fall within Parliamentary limits.
The Controller and Accountant Generals Department warned that without retrospective financial clearance from October 2, 2023, any salaries paid to the Director-General could be considered unearned.
Consequently, the salary payments to Professor Alhassan have been suspended since March 2025.
Despite these developments, the Union said that the NMC has failed to act, describing the Commission’s silence as a tacit endorsement of what it called mismanagement and financial malfeasance.
The Union warned that if the issue is not resolved within ten working days, it will be compelled to advise itself, signaling possible industrial action or legal steps.
The Union also referenced prior petitions, including one dated November 21, 2023, filed through the PSWU of TUC, which clearly stated that the staff opposed any extension of Professor Alhassan’s contract.
A second petition, dated July 19, 2024, raised further concerns about the worsening state of the corporation, leading to media engagements and public protests by staff.
In another public campaign on August 28, 2024, the unionized staff urged the NMC to act swiftly, but according to the Union, their appeal was again met with silence.
The petition further cited the controversy surrounding the 3.6 million dollar contract awarded during the 13th African Games, which the Union claims brought GBC unwanted public scrutiny.
Additionally, the Public Accounts Committee had referred Professor Alhassan to the Attorney-General for prosecution for alleged breaches of procurement laws, following the Auditor-General’s report on GBC for the year ending December 31, 2022.
The Union urged the NMC to treat the petition with the seriousness it deserves, warning that failure to act would worsen staff morale and further erode public confidence in the state broadcaster.
