New GBC board asked to expedite restructuring exercise

THE National Media Commission (NMC) has asked the new Board of Directors of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) to fashion out a comprehensive programme on how it intends to proceed with the restructuring process of the corporation within the next one month.
Inaugurating the board in Accra yesterday, the Chairman of the commission, Mr Paul Adu-Gyamfi, further tasked the board to inject some transparency in the restructuring process of the corporation.
He said the restructuring process should proceed on non-negotiable principles.
Such principles, he explained, were that GBC would remain a public service broadcaster and would not be divested or commercialised.
Mr Adu-Gyamfi said the NMC shall not permit the victimisation of any staff of GBC in the name of restructuring.
This year, he said, should be the year of action for GBC, a time for action and not words, and added that “the restructuring process must be completed and brought to a full closure”.
“As we welcome the new board to office, it is important to remind them of the Herculean task ahead, since they will be required to turn GBC around.
“Indeed they will be confronted with the job of halting the dwindling image of the corporation,” he stated, and pointed out that at the moment GBC was faced with a poor salary structure, which does not allow it to attract quality staff.
“As I stand before you now, we still do not have documentation on the many things the Ministry of Public Sector Reforms claimed they had done on behalf of GBC in the name of restructuring,” he added, but commended the outgoing board for doing their best to improve the fortunes of the corporation.
The new board is chaired by Professor John Bright K. Aheto, with Mr Edward B. Asare, Mr Yaw Wiredu Pepprah, Ms Vicky Wereko Andoh, Mr Gayheart Mensah, Mr Abdulai Dramani, Mrs Ophelia Ablorh, and the Director-General of GBC, Mr William Ampem-Darko, as members.
The outgoing Board Chairman, Reverend Dr Asante Antwi, in an address on his behalf, said although there were challenges in every organisation, the issue of participation and consultation would be key to the success of GBC.
He expressed gratitude to the Director-General, the management and staff of GBC for their dedication and the zeal with which they co-operated with the board since they assumed office two years ago.
Mr Ampem-Darko acknowledged the efforts and good work of the outgoing board, stating that they had done their best and been able to move the corporation to a better position.
He pledged the management’s commitment to co-operate with the in-coming board and seek their counsel to ensure that GBC rises to the status of some of the best in the world like the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
The new Board Chairman, Prof. Aheto, on behalf of the nine-member board pledged to revitalise the workforce, operate financially prudent, accountable and sound internal control systems.

Caption: Mr Adu-Gyamfi (right) administering the oath of office to the new board members