Story by Paul Mensah Nsor
President John Dramani Mahama's visit to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) took an unexpected turn when staff members greeted him with placards demanding the dismissal of their Director-General, Professor Amin Alhassan. The President's visit was part of his working tour of state-owned media houses. ¹
The staff's protest was sparked by alleged mismanagement and poor leadership under Professor Alhassan's tenure. Placards bore messages such as "GBC is collapsing under Prof. Amin Alhassan" and "Mr President, sack Professor Amin Alhassan now – we are suffering".
The workers' union has been vocal about their dissatisfaction with Professor Alhassan's leadership, citing issues such as financial irregularities, poor staff welfare, and a decline in programming quality. The union's chairman, Samuel Nathaniel Kevor, stated that the Director-General's contract expired on October 1, 2023, and any extension would be detrimental to the Corporation.
Professor Alhassan, however, has dismissed the demands, claiming that only the National Media Commission (NMC) has the authority to appoint or remove him. He cited a contractual agreement with the NMC, which he believes is still valid.
The protest highlights the ongoing challenges facing Ghana's state broadcaster and raises questions about leadership accountability and governance.
