The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) is at the centre of controversy, following inconsistencies in the renewal of its Director-General, Prof. Amin Alhassan’s contract.
The dates and sequences of events between the media house and the National Media Commission (NMC) do not add up.
GBC’s management, in a rejoinder, vehemently denied media reports by The Herald, quoting GBC workers that Prof. Alhassan’s tenure had expired issued. However, the denial has stoked fire and brimstone, with the media house throwing itself into further questions about the transparency and legality of the contract renewal process.
In its rejoinder to The Herald, Stephanie Baka, Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs at GBC, refuted claims that Prof. Alhassan’s tenure had expired and that workers were demanding his removal, calling the publication “malicious and mischievous”.
It stated that the NMC, the appointing authority, had renewed Prof. Alhassan’s contract for a second term on October 2, 2023, following the expiration of his initial appointment on October 1, 2023. It said The Herald failed to verify the facts with the NMC or GBC’s Human Resource Division.
The GBC rejoinder was specific: the NMC renewed Prof Alhassan’s appointment for a second term, which took effect on October 2, 2023, a day after his first term ended on October 1, 2023. However, The Herald’s thorough scrutiny of official documents and formal communication between NMC, GBC, and Controller and Accountants General Department painted a different picture about said renewal.
Firstly, a letter in the custody of The Herald issued by the Deputy Executive Secretary of the NMC, Alexander Nii Katey Bannerman, dated February 28, 2024, revealed that NMC notified GBC nearly five months after the supposed extension the rejoinder sent to The Herald, had mentioned.
What raised further eyebrows is that the NMC letter was not copied to the Presidency, the Minister of Information or the GBC Board, leading to concerns about whether the necessary constitutional consultations were carried out or who was speaking the truth between the NMC and GBC.
Article 168 of the 1992 Constitution mandates the NMC to consult the President before appointing or renewing the appointment of the GBC Director-General.
“The National Media Commission shall, in appointing the Chief Executive of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, consult the President” Article 168 states. Yet there is no documentary evidence that such a consultation took place between the NMC, the outgoing Akufo-Addo government or the Mahama government, which was sworn into office on January 7, 2025, prompting additional questions about whether due process was followed in Prof. Alhassan’s reappointment.
In addition to the delayed formal confirmation, GBC’s Human Resources office, only officially communicated the contract extension to the Controller and Accountant General’s Department over a year later, on March 11, 2025 – thirteen clear months.
The GBC letter dated March 11, 2025, titled “Extension of contract for Director General—GBC,” referenced the NMC letter dated 28th February 2024 and stated that the NMC had renewed the Service Contract for Prof. Amin Alhassan as the Director-General of GBC commencing from 2nd October 2023 for four (4) years.
“A copy of the Service Contract is accordingly attached. We respectfully request that you update your records as appropriate”, said the letter signed on behalf of the Director General by one John O. Korasaro in his capacity as Director of Human Resources. Those copied included Executive Secretary – NMC, Governing Board – GBC, DOF- GBC.
Interestingly, President Mahama, dissolved all governing Boards as far back as January 13, 2025; hence, it is unclear which GBC Board, copied the letter sent to the Controller and Accountant General, Akwesi Agyei.
This prolonged administrative lag, has fueled concerns about whether proper procedures were followed and whether some documents had been backdated.
Questions have also been asked about whether GBC’s Human Resource office, on behalf of GBC’s boss, was the appropriate office to authorise the payment of salary for the Director General.
Also being questioned is why the Controller and Accountant General’s Departments weren’t notified as far back as October 2023, when the renewal was done, as claimed by the rejoinder sent to The Herald, which said the renewal was done on October 2, 2023.
These inconsistencies have led to speculations that the NMC, did not renew Prof. Alhansan’s appointment during the past administration, but decided to do so under the Mahama administration; however, backdating it on the blindside of the new government, which is still in its formative stage.
This is because, although the GBC letters mentioned that the NMC had renewed Prof. Alhassan’s appointment on October 2, 2023, The Herald, has also sighted a letter by the NMC’s Executive Secretary, dated December 11, 2023, addressed to the General Secretary of the Public Service Workers Union Accra, pointing to the contrary, as he was under an investigation.
George Sarpong, the NMC’s executive secretary, signed the document titled “Re: Request for Clarification on the Status of the Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC),” showing that as of 11 December 2023, Prof. Alhassan’s Service Contract had not been renewed contrary to the GBC rejoinder to The Herald and his phone call to the newspaper.
Mr Sarpong’s letter read, “We refer to your letter dated November 21, 2023, with reference PSWUNNS/79/SF.14fV.3/168 on the above subject matter and wish to inform you that the Commission is in the process of determining the leadership of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC)”.
“As you may be aware, Article 168 of the 1992 Constitution enjoins the Commission to appoint the board and Chief Executives of the state-owned media in consultation with H.E. The President.
“We shall make a public announcement as soon as the process is completed”, adding, “The Commission, wishes to express its gratitude to your Union for having a keen interest in the affairs of the GBC”.
Critics have also pointed out that GBC, failed to seek authourization from the Ministry of Information, as well as financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance, before finalizing the renewal, a standard requirement to ensure budgetary provisions are in place.
Despite these inconsistencies, GBC’s rejoinder dismissed concerns about Prof. Alhassan’s tenure, labelling the reports as “malicious and mischievous” and asserting that no staff had demanded his removal.
However, the procedural gaps highlighted by the available documentation, continue to raise concerns about the governance and transparency of the contract renewal process.