NMC and GBC orded to respond to Lokko's writ

Accra, Dec. 16, GNA - An Accra High Court on Friday ordered the National Media Commission (NMC) and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) to respond to the writ of Ms Eva Lokko, Director-General of the Corporation, over a directive to her to proceed on leave. The court in its ruling noted that issues raised in Ms Lokko's writ of summons and statement of case were of merit. It said their response should be filed within seven days in order to make way for hearing of the substantive matter.

The court said it took into consideration the inability of NMC and GBC to file their response to issues raised in the plaintiffs' writ of summons and statement of case.

"Instead of responding to the writ of summons, defendants only entered a conditional appearance indicating that the writ was vague." It noted that NMC and GBC could not tell the court why the plaintiffs writ had no merit.

It, however, did not award any cost against NMC and GBC. Ms Lokko in her writ of summons is praying the court to restrain NMC and GBC from interfering with her work at GBC. She is also praying the court to declare the directive of NMC and GBC unlawful, since it was in contravention of with the Labour Act and the 1992 Constitution.

The plaintiff is also praying the court for further costs. The defendants, however, prayed the court to dismiss the plaintiff's writ of summons because it was vague and disclosed no reasonable cause of action.

They further contended that the court had no jurisdiction to grant an injunction on a statutory body set up by the Constitution.