General News of Sunday, 21 January 2018
Source: Myjoyonline.com
2018-01-21
Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, Managing Editor of the New Crusading Guide newspaper
New Crusading Guide newspaper Editor-in-Chief Abdul Malik Kwaku Baako has entreated the embattled Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation to head to court to challenge his ‘dismissal’.
The veteran journalist said the court is the appropriate forum for Dr Kwame Akuffo Anoff-Ntow to cure the “mischief” surrounding the decision taken by the GBC Board.
The head of the state broadcaster was asked to proceed on leave for his role in the creation of the Special TV license court, an action that has been interpreted as an outright dismissal.
Both the GBC Board and the government have said they were unaware of the decision to reinstate payment of TV license fee and the court’s creation.
GBC Board Chairman, Reverend Professor Emmanuel Adow-Obeng has reportedly said Dr Anoff-Ntow’s poor handling of the TV license fee was to blame for his ‘dismissal.’
The Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) has condemned the Board’s action, calling on the National Media Commission (NMC) to intervene.
Speaking on the issue on Joy FM/MultiTV’s news analysis programme Newsfile Saturday, Mr Baako said while a recourse to the NMC is not bad, there are legal processes available to cure the “jungle” decision.
“When somebody violates the law what do you do? You go to the appropriate forum to cure the mischief [and] if I were the Director-General, I will proceed to the appropriate forum by filing the appropriate processes in a court of law,” he told show host, Samson Lardy Anyenini.
He said there are several judicial precedents that could tip the scale in favour of Dr. Anoff-Ntow who reportedly went to his office after he was dismissed, claiming he was still at post.
“We need to grow this democracy, we need to grow a culture of good governance of building on the principles that guide our democratic politics,” Mr Baako said. ?
“To be honest with you even if the GBC board did the wrong thing and I am inclined they did something wrong, instinctively and everything.”