Reinstate Kenu - Board of Directors demands

The former Ashanti Regional Bureau Chief of Daily Graphic, Daniel Kenu, will soon find his way back to work as the Board of Directors of the state-owned media house has ordered his reinstatement.

Information reaching DAILY GUIDE indicates that the board was able to convince the National Media Commission (NMC) at a crunch meeting yesterday that the Managing Director (MD), Kenneth Ashiegbey, had unilaterally dismissed Mr. Kenu for withdrawing a case of assault against Baffuor Gyan, elder brother of Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan and others.

The NMC reportedly endorsed the Graphic Board’s order for reinstatement because the Doris Yaa Dartey-led team had made a strong case at the commission’s office in Accra that the MD did not consult them before firing Mr. Kenu.

A committee that was set up by Graphic Communications Group Limited to investigate the conduct of the journalist in the assault case did not recommend his outright dismissal and the board made it clear to the NMC.

Even before the board put its case across at the commission, the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU) – the labour front for Graphic staff – had dialogued with Mr. Ashiegbey to rescind his decision but the MD was adamant.

He was also said to have even ruled out any appeal by Mr. Kenu for reinstatement when the ICU approached him.

Mr. Ashiegbey was said to be at the NMC meeting yesterday, and put up a spirited defence for his action but he was overruled by the commission.

With this latest decision, some concerned journalists who met last Friday with an agitation – ‘Bring Back Kenu’ – may now heave a sigh of relief.

The journalists were aggrieved by the high-handedness of the Graphic management.

Interestingly, the committee set up by the management when the journalist surprisingly withdrew the case from the court had suggested that Mr. Kenu should be suspended for one month without pay for his ‘weird behaviour.’

The recommendations of the committee, a copy of which is in the possession of DAILY GUIDE – did not call for the dismissal of the reporter.

This revelation seems to give credence to reports that Mr. Kenu was not sacked because of his issue with the Gyan family.

He unilaterally withdrew a court case brought against the ex-Ghana star, Baffuor Gyan, who was alleged to have led thugs to assault him (Kenu).

Graphic Communications Group knew nothing about Mr. Kenu’s decision to withdraw the case after giving him a legal backing and so the company instituted a committee to investigate the case and make recommendations.

The committee, which was chaired by Ernest Cobblah, was supposed to advise management on Mr. Kenu’s said insubordination.

“In view of the fact that it was the first time, Mr. Kenu had committed such a grievous offence and for his initial cooperation, the committee recommends one month suspension without pay as per the collective bargaining agreement, Section 22(b) subsection (iv),” the committee had said.

It was also recommended that Mr. Kenu should not be credited with any of his stories for two months after his suspension to also serve as a deterrent to others, irrespective of their status.

The committee said Mr. Kenu should be made to render an unqualified apology to management and staff of the company at the next staff durbar before the end of the year.

At that forum, the committee called on management to state its position clearly to staff on such matters and the consequences of violating the company’s rule.

It said that staff of the company should be informed that any incident that affected them while on official duty would be handled by the company and full cooperation would be demanded from the victim to seek justice.