GBC Board Inaugurated

Accra, Jan. 18, GNA - The Right Reverend Dr Samuel Asante-Antwi, Member of Council of State, on Thursday called on the staff of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) to gear up and face the competition from private radio and television stations.

He urged them to change their attitude to enable them to overcome the various challenges and to improve upon the image of the Corporation. Rev Dr Asante-Antwi was speaking at the inauguration of a nine-member Board for GBC, which he chairs. The Board has a two-year term.

He noted that the introduction of the private media has created serious competition and GBC should work hard to meet its slogan "The Station of the Nation".

The Board members are: Mr Alex Bonney; Dr Audrey Gadzekpo; Mr Robert Ahomka Lindsay; Ms Stella Amegashie; Ms Georgette Francois; Mr Kojo D. Frimpong and Mr Yaw Owusu-Addo, Acting Director-General of GBC. Mr Ben Batabe Assorow, a member, was absent.

Rt Rev. Asante-Atwi urged GBC staff to work in peace and harmony with the Board to give it a positive image.

Mr Paul Adu-Gyamfi, Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), who inaugurated the Board, said the Commission expected to see GBC as a public broadcaster with public service mission that was run on sound management principles by efficient and well paid staff. "GBC is confronted with a poor salary structure, which does not allow it to attract quality staff. Morale among workers is so low that quality members of staff are being poached."

Mr Adu-Gyamfi urged GBC to continue to be the pace setter and the pivot around which sound electronic broadcasting revolved in Ghana. "This then requires dialogue on the current state of the organisation within the context of international best practices on public service broadcasting. We need to re-examine the governance question of mandate; the management issues of funding and the increasing competition in the industry, which may require that the existing legislation on GBC be reviewed."

He commended the old Board for their good work in redeeming the image of the Corporation and ensuring that all debts were cleared. Nana Kobina Nketsia V, the Immediate-Past Board Chairman of the of GBC, said the Board took over at a time when GBC was in a serious financial crisis owing around 25 billion cedis in terms of accumulated staff welfare dues; artiste fees; Ghana Journalist Association dues; Trade Union dues and electricity bills among other things. He said the Copyright Society of Ghana and Ghana Football Association took the Corporation to court for non-payment of 500 million cedis, which they had to pay with interest.

"It is indeed remarkable that, in just about a year this Corporation has not only cleared off all debts but has managed to prepare financial accounting statements from 2000 to 2005." Nana Nketsia noted that GBC could perform if there were stability and peace at the workers front adding: "Without that the GBC dream cannot be achieved in the years ahead."

He urged the Management to continue to be transparent and truthful at all times to the new Board and expressed the hope that it would study seriously and quickly act on the report on reforming GBC.

"The report recommends the setting up of a Ghana Broadcasting College; creating commercial channels; web casting; the utilization of its landed assets as well as our report to the Media Commission and a financial report in order to push the Corporation towards becoming a self-financing institution."

Mr Yaw Owusu Addo, Acting Director-General, expressed the hope that the new Board would help GBC to address its critical problems and called for the support of the working force.