In the past 45 days alone, about ten influential staff members of the Metro TV have resigned from the third biggest TV station in the country. A number of them spoke with the Hi Newspaper about their reasons for not extending their commitment to the station: ‘lack of structures’ and ‘bad working conditions’ were reasons for the massive exodus.
It has become necessary to find out why heads of two most important departments at the station could move out at about the same time. William Asare and Mary-Ann Acolatse, Head of Production and Head of News respectively refused to renew their contracts which ended in December 2010.
The highly efficient Mary-Ann Acolatse, ex-Head of News refused to renew her contract because “she was not comfortable with conditions at Metro TV”, she was said to have told a confidante. A top member of the Marketing Team, Lord Oware also resigned in January.
Metro TV is run by Optimum Media Prime (OMP) Ltd which allegedly owns 60% stake in the TV network with the remaining stake belonging to the State-owned GBC (GTV). This is reason enough to be concerned about development at Metro TV considering that the ordinary Ghanaian has stake in Metro TV by virtue of GTV’s stake.
“The problems started before the beginning of 2010”, a worker at Metro TV told Hi’s Jeff Turkson. “We however thought things would get better with time”, another told Hi. “Metro TV has no proper structures, there’s not even a Human Resource Department, hence almost all the burden is loaded on Department Heads, a system which takes a huge toll on heads of departments”.
The Major exodus started last year with the resignation of Mr. Ken Ashigbey, the boss of OMP. Both the Labone and Ebony offices have been hit with massive exodus as two important visual editors, camera crew and field journalists (reporters) have moved on. Ken Ashiabge returned to Multi TV as he purportedly developed issues with money due him. Also the departed Head of News, Mary-Ann has since last week resumed work at Multi TV.
Before the end of February, Hi gathers, the C.E.O Tallal Fatal’s blood brother, Shlawki Fattal, who is currently the General Manager is expected to resign. A source close to Shlawki Fatal reveals that agreement has not been reached concerning alleged stakes promised him by his C.E.O. brother. “and this is why I’m leaving by the end of February”.
Latest information gathered says one of the resigned is fighting corporate Metro TV in courts for breach of contract in relation to demands by Metro TV that all who were leaving the company “should leave behind their car”.
