Unionized workers of the state broadcaster – Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) – Thursday morning prevented the board members of the company from entering the premises.
This followed the passing of a resolution by leadership of the workers’ union last week Thursday, July 7, 2016, barring members of the GBC board, chaired by Richard Kwame Asante, from entering the compound.
The workers are accusing the board of running down the corporation and engaging in acts of malfeasance.
At a charged durbar at the broadcasting house in Accra yesterday, the workers asked the National Media Commission (NMC) to dissolve the current board.
The durbar was held following reports that the Nima police had invited the leadership of the workers’ union for interrogation regarding a complaint by the board chairman that he was being threatened.
The unionized staff resolved they would not be intimidated and that they would follow their leaders to the police station anytime they were invited.
Workers’ Resolution
A copy of the resolution was sent to the board; the acting director of the corporation, Francisca Ashietey-Oduntum; the Trades Unions Council and other persons, declaring the board “persona non grata.”
It reads; “The present GBC board is hereby declared “persona non grata” and that members “should cease entering into BH3 and all other facilities forthwith; GBC security is hereby ordered to prevent members of the board from entering into BH3 and any other facility.”
As at press time last night, representatives from GBC management, Public Services Workers’ Union of TUC, local union leaders and the police were engaged in a meeting to resolve the issue.
Complaint
Some workers, who spoke to DAILY GUIDE on condition of anonymity, complained bitterly about treatment being meted out to them by the board.
According to them, the board does not care about the conditions under which they work in the newsrooms and other offices, adding that some of them sit on broken chairs to work.
One worker said, “Since 2013 workers who had gone on retirement have not been paid their entitlements. The board members are only interested in amassing wealth. They don’t care about us the workers.”
By Cephas Larbi