Stop the anonymous letter writing - Kuenyehia

Nutifafa Kuenyehia, Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), on Tuesday appealed to the staff of Ghana News Agency (GNA) to refrain from writing anonymous letters saying this impedes the progress of the agency.

He said the NMC was disturbed about the tendency of these letters some of which tried to court the executive to interfere in the day-to-day operation of the agency adding that this does not augur well for its development.

Kuenyehia was inaugurating the new Board of Directors of GNA that has Rex Owusu-Ansah, former Clerk of Parliament, as chairman.

The members are Dr. A.B.K. Anane, a lawyer, Nanayaa Tina O. Prempeh, a business executive, Joshua S. Awindor, an information technologist, Abdulai Musa, a chartered accountant and Kafui Johnson, General Manager of GNA.

Government would later appoint a journalist to replace Dr Audrey Gadzekpo, a member of the former board, who was retained but said could not take up the job because of other commitments.

Kuenyehia said what GNA needed was peace and tranquillity, devoid of sectional, parochial and selfish interest adding that it was only under these circumstances that GNA would progress. "Those who profess to be workers' leaders must always be humble and place the interest of the workers above their own."

He said workers should be bold enough to channel their grievances through the NMC that was mandated to handle such issues and urged management to create a communication channel to address these grievances.

Kuenyehia said GNA like other state institutions, suffered quite apart from inadequate finance and non-release of approved funds, adding, "it was a miracle to see it make a modest gain and progress as evident in the last two years".

Andrew Awuni, a Deputy Minister of Communications and a former journalist of the Agency, who recounted his working experience with the Agency, said the GNA was one big peaceful family and it was disturbing to hear about these anonymous letters.

He said the Agency should try and nib this phenomenon in the bud adding, "this thing must stop and it must stop now." Awuni said workers must respect authority and channel their grievances through accepted laid down procedures. He urged the new Board to investigate whatever gave rise to this unpleasant phenomenon and address it effectively.