President John Dramani Mahama’s working visit to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) was marked by open protests from staff, who used the occasion to demand the removal of the Director-General, Professor Amin Alhassan, over alleged mismanagement and poor leadership.
As the President toured the state-owned broadcaster as part of his engagement with public media institutions, workers lined up with placards accusing management of presiding over the collapse of GBC.
Messages on the placards included calls on the President to dismiss Professor Alhassan, with staff lamenting what they described as worsening working conditions and declining fortunes of the Corporation.
The protest reflects long-standing grievances by the Divisional Union of the Public Services Workers’ Union (PSWU) at GBC, which has consistently raised concerns about the Director-General’s leadership.
According to the Union, issues such as financial irregularities, poor staff welfare, and a decline in programming quality have plagued the Corporation under Professor Alhassan’s tenure.
The Union’s Chairman, Samuel Nathaniel Kevor, has also argued that the Director-General’s contract expired on October 1, 2023, warning that any extension would be harmful to the broadcaster.
Professor Alhassan has, however, rejected the calls for his removal, insisting that only the National Media Commission (NMC) has the constitutional mandate to appoint or dismiss a Director-General of GBC, maintaining that his contract with the NMC remains valid.
The public protest followed an earlier formal appeal by the GBC Divisional Union to President Mahama to intervene urgently to avert what it described as the imminent collapse of the state broadcaster.
In a petition dated January 8, 2026, and addressed to the President at Jubilee House, the Union cited financial malfeasance and mismanagement of scarce resources as major threats to GBC’s survival.
The petition further raised concerns over the sale and leasing of GBC lands across the country, alleging a lack of transparency in such transactions.
It also pointed to problems surrounding contracts and payments linked to the 13th African Games, which the Union said have compounded the Corporation’s financial difficulties.
According to the Union, these challenges have severely affected staff morale and operational efficiency, while undermining GBC’s mandate as Ghana’s public service broadcaster. The Union also alleged victimisation and intimidation of workers who speak out against management practices.
The Divisional Union said it had previously submitted similar petitions to the Office of the President and the National Media Commission, and expressed confidence in President Mahama’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and the protection of public institutions.
Copies of the latest petition were also sent to the Chief of Staff at Jubilee House, the Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), and the General Secretary of the PSWU.
