'Where was NMC when GBC goofed consistently?'

Deputy Information Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa A Deputy Information Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has questioned the justification for the National Media Commission to fault the ministry's handling of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation over certain critical matters. He asked where the NMC was when the GBC goofed badly and failed to telecast live, President J.E.A. Mills’ address to the UN General Assembly recently plus several other promised-but-failed programmes. The Ministry of Information last week hauled the management of GBC to explain why it disappointed Ghanaians by failing to telecast the president’s address, describing it and other failings as scandalous. Officials of the ministry subsequently set up a five-member committee to investigate the GBC’s conduct, arguing its goofs had become one too many. But that action, the media regulatory body, the NMC argues was wrong, accusing “the Ministry of Information of bypassing the laid-down administrative procedure and structure to set up that committee” Mr Okudzeto however disagrees. He maintained that the ministry acted responsibly because it could not sit by while money asked for by the station to broadcast events went down the drain. “As responsible ministers, we have to ensure that the people of Ghana have value for money,” he emphasized. The Deputy Minister said the conduct of the ministry was consistent with the 1992 Constitution as it did not seek to influence editorial content of the corporation. He however concedes that now that the NMC has woken up to its responsibility of calling the national broadcaster to order, the ministry is prepared to recall its committee. Speaking to Joy FM’s Super Morning Show host, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, Mr Okudzeto said he was happy that the NMC itself had expressed concern about the performance of GBC. Story by Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana