National Media Commission too timid, tame and weak – Ablakwa

The National Democratic Congress(NDC)Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has urged the National Media Commission(NMC) to act expeditiously in settling the impasse at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation(GBC).

The Director-General Dr Anoff Akuffo Ntow was last week directed by the GBC governing Board to proceed on leave following his handling of the TV license fees payment which received backlash among a huge section of the public.

However, Dr Ntow declined to obey the directive insisting it’s only the National Media Commission(NMC) which has the power in his case to alter his terms of appointment.

He in a letter addressed to the Board Chairman, drew the attention of the Board Chairman that under his terms of contract, it is the NMC which is the only body with the authority to appoint and alter his terms of appointment.

Dr Ntow said under the circumstances, he cannot act on the Board’s directive until an express directive from the NMC on any such decision to proceed on leave.

But speaking on the development on Joy FM’s News File show, Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa who’s also a former Deputy Minister for Information blamed the trouble at the State Broadcaster on the inertia on the part of NMC even though they’re empowered by law to step in, in such matters.

“The National Media Commission has been too docile, they’ve been too timid, they’ve been too weak, too ductile, too tame and lame. The National Media Commission does not have to be prompted, it’s not for nothing that Chapter 12 of the Constitution established the National Media Commission to insulate state owned media from all of these…I don’t want to use shenanigans but all of these possibilities. The National Media Commission should speak up on these matters and take action. It’s the National Media Commission who appoints the Director-General.”