Embattled GNA boss calls police on workers

The embattled General Manager of Ghana News Agency (GNA), Nana Apau Dua and the management of the agency has reported the leaders of the two local workers unions to the Greater-Accra Regional Police Command.

A letter to the Greater-Accra Regional Police Commander, Rose Bio Atinga, signed by Administrative Manager of GNA, Rex Annan said in part that the GM felt threatened by the workers demand for him to be ousted.

The police have therefore invited the leaders of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), and the Public Service Workers Union (PSWU) at GNA to answer to their alleged threat to cause mayhem.

GNA workers petitioned the National Media Commission demanding the termination of the GM’s appointment at the end of this month, following an open accusation by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr. Bonnah Koomson, that the GM is solely to blame for the woes of the agency. The leadership of the CWU noted that Nana Apau Dua is already due to retire at the end of this month but there were hints that the NMC wants to extend his stay in office in spite of his unpopularity with the board and workers. The workers therefore told Adom News they would advise themselves if the GM does not leave at the end of this month.

On the basis of the workers petition and interview with Adom News, the General Secretary of the CWU, Mr. Felix Atukwei Quaye has been issued with a query letter to explain why he should not be punished for speaking with Adom News among other things.

The two workers unions at GNA also met to deliberate on their next line of action following the query letter, and management misconstrued that to be a meeting to plan mayhem so they reported to the police.

The Union leaders explained their position to the Regional Police Commander and she cautioned them to use the right channel of redress as the GM feels threatened by their current position.

Early on Wednesday morning some police officers visited GNA and went to the management block to meet with the administrative manager, Rex Annan, but workers say they were not in the least perturbed by the GM’s moves to use the police to threaten them.

They noted that since they submitted their petition to NMC and granted interview to the media, the GM has made it a habit to be roaming from office to office and throwing innuendos around with threats to show workers where power lies. Meanwhile an official of the NMC says they (NMC) do not recognize the petition from the GNA workers until they (the workers) go through the board.

In a related development, one of the current GNA management members is allegedly interested in the GM’s position, but workers say none of the current management members has shown any competence to manage the agency.