NAFTI directorship in limbo

Accra, May 6, GNA - Mr. Martin Loh, Director of the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI), on Saturday blamed the Ministry of Information for stalling the process for appointing a new Director for the institute.

He said the NAFTI Board of Governors started the process of searching for a substantive Director and Deputy Director in August 2002, and in September last year advertised in local papers for the two posts. Mr. Loh, who was responding to Ghana News Agency's enquiries over allegations of maladministration, retention of over-aged staff, purchase of three paper shredders, inaction of the Board of Directors and other related issues, which according to staff members had affected the morale of staff and students.

He said, six individuals, senior staff of NAFTI, applied for the posts of Director and Deputy Director.

He said on February 20, 2006, the NAFTI Board of Governor's Sub-Committee on Appointment to Executive Position met to shortlist the candidates for interviews. Four of the six candidates who were all employees of the Institute qualified and were duly invited for an interview on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 for the final selection. Mr Loh said in the cause of the process, a Director from the Ministry of Information stormed the Institute to order the Board to stop the interview process.

He therefore described the allegations as unfounded and baseless and urged staff to exercise restraints, saying, "I am tired and ready to go as soon as a substantive Director is appointed." Mr Loh noted that appointment to the Head of the Institution is not a political one but by merits.

Documents obtained by GNA indicated 11 over-aged members of staff of the Institute.

Mr Loh admitted there were over-aged people on the staff, but explained: "even with the over-aged staffs, we are understaffed much more if they are allowed to go on the simple reason that they have attained the aged of 60 years.

"As educational institution, we are allowed to offer contracts to valuable staffs and also to enhance our staff portfolio as we transform from a Diploma to a Degree awarding institution, these men are critically (valuable) to the academic board."

He said the University of Ghana, required Masters and Degree holders as one of basic requirement for upgrading the status of the NAFTI, "these over-aged staffs were among those submitted to the University way back when we applied, we cannot lay them off until we have good replacements."

Mr Loh lauded the efforts of the over-aged staffs, stressing that without these staff, NAFTI's academic progression would be seriously endangered, adding that NAFTI is a "specialized institution with few qualified men out there to teach effectively."