GBC workers call for forensic audit of Corporation as PSWU asks Board to resign

Workers of GBC have called for a forensic audit of the activities of the Corporation's Board of Directors regarding proceeds from the 2014 World Cup and Internally Generated Funds, IGF.  

The workers accuse the Board of mismanaging the Corporation’s funds.  

Addressing a news conference at Broadcasting House in Accra on Wednesday, the Chairman of the GBC Divisional Union of PSWU, Michael Allotey, said workers resolve not to allow the Board enter the Broadcasting House is non-negotiable. 

Flanked by Regional and Divisional Executives of the Union as well as a representative of the General Secretary of the Public Services Workers Union, Mr Allotey said even though news and production facilities are fast deteriorating, the Board thought it wise to use the Corporation's meager resources to buy four-wheel drive vehicles for some management staff at the expense of core operations of the Corporation.

The Union also questioned the wisdom of renting out GBC's studios to private competitors when dedicated channels of the Corporation have no studio of their own. 

Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of the Public Service Workers Union, Richard Ampaabeng has called on the Board of GBC to humbly resign.  

He said the micro-management of the Corporation’s affairs by the board is the cause of the poor state of affairs. 

He said GBC used to raise revenue to pay for its operations, but since the coming in of the board the situation has changed. 

Speaking on GBC’s ‘Behind the News,’ Mr Ampaabeng said the illegal appointment of some directors by the board who are being paid from the Corporation’s IGF has contributed to the poor financial state of GBC. 

He said the earlier the appointing authority dissolves the board, the better it will be to save the Corporation from total collapse.

He said the misplaced priority of the board is what has caused the agitation from the workers, adding that workers of the corporation are right in their call for the dissolution of the board and urged the NMC to as a matter of urgency intervene.

In a related development, a labour expert, Danso Acheampong disagreed with workers of the GBC over their agitations against board members of the Corporation. 

He said the call by the Union for the dissolution of the Board is not the best since the workers have not exhausted all other legal means. 

Mr Acheampong called on workers of the Corporation to exercise restraint and allow the appropriate authorities to look into the issue. 

GBC