New GBC Akan Channel JV signed without consulting us – Union

The Divisional Union of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) has refuted suggestions that it consented to an agreement for a proposed joint venture between the state broadcaster and a private entity to set up Adwenpa TV, an Akan TV channel.

In a statement issued by the Divisional Union Chair, Mr Michael Allotey on Tuesday, 9 July 2019, the union said it was not factual that the management consulted the union before the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the new channel to start operation.

The union emphasised that: “In principle, it is not against any venture that will bail out the corporation and make it viable”, however, “being informed should not be misconstrued to mean a tacit or open approval to a venture it has not apprised itself of”.

The union stated that its members have “not seen the venture agreement and its details for study, consultation and guidance to ensure that whatever will be the dividend and details do not negatively affect its members”.

“It is, therefore, erroneous for management to misconstrue [that] to mean acceptance when details are not clear. The union is yet to receive a copy of the MoU as requested”, the statement added.

The management of GBC has said that the 10-year MoU had been signed between GBC and KBL, in which GBC was to bring on board equity worth $350,000 while KBL would bring on goodwill of $100,000 as commitment, which it had already paid into the accounts of GBC.

Below is the full rejoinder of the union:

REJOINDER FROM UNION ON MERGER WITH PRIVATE ENTITY

The Divisional Union’s attention has been drawn to Radio Ghana bulletins on Friday, 5th July 2019, that seeks to suggest that the Union was consulted before the proposed collaboration of GBC with a Private Entity to setup an Akan TV channel (Adwenpa TV).

We wish to place on record that the Union was informed by Management in May 2019, when the proposed collaboration was far advanced.

Management further informed the Union that the proposed merger is to bring private partnerships on board the commercial Channels to enable them to raise the needed capital to free the Corporation from its current financial quagmire.

The Union made it clear to Management that in principle it is not against any venture that will help the Corporation out of its financial challenges. However, it drew Management’s attention to previous collaborations that did not inure to the benefit of the Corporation.

The Divisional Union want to state for emphasis that in principle it is not against any venture that will bail out the Corporation and make it viable. Being informed should not be misconstrued to mean tacit or open approval to a venture it has not apprised itself of. The Division has not seen the venture agreement and its details for study, consultation and guidance to ensure that, whatever will be the dividend and details does not negatively affect its members. It is therefore erroneous for Management to misconstrue to mean acceptance when details are not clear. The Union is yet to receive a copy of the MOU as requested.

The financial challenges that befall the Corporation are as a result of numerous challenges, prominent amongst which are the undue interference from Actors and Transmissions in communities that are not commercially viable as the result of “Public Service Mandate”.

It has been established across the world that the only sustainable way to manage a Public Service Broadcaster is the payment of a Licence fee. Different countries have different descriptions of the payment, but all in the interest of sustaining an effective Public Broadcasting System. In the case of Ghana, actors have ensured that this Act of Parliament that seeks to support the Public Broadcasting System and ensure its independence, viability and effectiveness does not materialize, yet have high expectations from the Public Broadcaster in Ghana comparing her to International Public Broadcasters like the BBC, Aljazeera and VOA just to mention a few.

The need to have a vibrant and independent Public Service Broadcaster is undeniable. There is the need to provide a sustainable and reliable source of funding through the implementation of the TV License Act, 1966 (NLCD 89) as amended in 2015.

We wish to state and advice Management to be courteous in drawing the Division into matters it has not exhaustively engage it. Matters of this nature rather pollute the industrial atmosphere.

The Union again wish to state its preparedness to support Management in matters that are in the overall interest of the Corporation and Workers. Consultation is the key.

CHAIRMAN, DIVISION Michael Allotey

Cc GS PSWU

All GBC Local Union of GBC

Notice Board