The renewal of Professor Amin Alhassan’s appointment as Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) has drawn attention to the conditions of service governing his role, following revelations of a 2020 financial clearance letter outlining his compensation package.
Documents obtained by The Herald newspaper, show that Prof. Alhassan’s initial appointment in 2019, came with a comprehensive benefits structure approved by the Ministry of Finance, raising questions about whether due process was followed in renewing his contract four years later.
A letter dated November 27, 2020, signed by Patrick Nomo, Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance, granted financial clearance for Prof. Alhassan’s emoluments and allowances, backdated to his effective start date of 1 October 2019.
The letter, addressed to the Ministry of Information and copied to key stakeholders—including the Minister of Finance, the Deputy Minister of Finance, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Information, the Director of Budget at the Ministry of Information, the Auditor-General, the Head of CPMU at the Ministry of Finance, and the Director-General of GBC—detailed a monthly compensation package comprising salary, housing, fuel, security, and other allowances.
According to the document, Prof. Alhassan’s annual basic salary was set between GH₵66,330.61 and GH₵70,957.42, with additional entitlements including 20% of his basic salary for accommodation, 70 gallons of fuel per month for his official vehicle, and monthly allowances for a security officer (GH₵1,069.60), household support (GH₵459.20), utilities (GH₵567), a gardener (GH₵459.20), clothing (GH₵492.80), and entertainment (GH₵492.80).
The Ministry of Finance, directed GBC to process his payroll documents promptly to ensure timely payments, emphasising that arrears from his 2019 start date should be settled in a single instalment.
Despite this structured framework, Prof. Alhassan’s reappointment for a second term in October 2023, has been mired in controversy.
The National Media Commission (NMC) unilaterally renewed his contract, citing a communication dated February 2024, but the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) halted his salary on March 14, 2025, citing the absence of updated financial clearance from the Presidency.
This contradiction highlights unresolved procedural gaps, as constitutional mandates require the NMC to consult the President before renewing such appointments, under Article 168 of the 1992 Constitution.
Critics argue that the NMC’s reliance on the 2020 financial clearance—issued under a previous administration—to justify Prof. Alhassan’s renewed terms may not align with current legal standards, particularly after President Mahama dissolved all state boards in January 2025.
The CAGD’s suspension of his salary underscores this disconnect. It notes that financial clearance for such appointments has always been standard practice, implying that the renewal bypassed established protocols.
Further scrutiny centres on why the NMC’s 2023 renewal letter, issued by Deputy Executive Secretary Alexander Bannerman, failed to secure fresh presidential consultation or updated financial authorisation, leaving Prof. Alhassan’s current tenure in legal limbo.
The 2020 letter’s detailed conditions of service, while legally sound at the time, now spotlight broader concerns about transparency and accountability in high-level public sector appointments.
With Prof. Alhassan’s salary suspended and constitutional consultations unverified, the renewal raises critical questions about adherence to fiscal and administrative guidelines, particularly as state institutions grapple with overlapping mandates following the dissolution of all boards.
Meanwhile, a recent circular from GBC announcing a staff durbar tomorrow, April 10, 2025, has sparked confusion and raised procedural questions, as doubts emerge over the legitimacy of the event and the status of the Corporation’s Director-General.
The circular, dated March 28, 2025, invited staff to a meeting with the GBC Governing Board to discuss recent negative media attention and the renewal of the Director-General’s appointment.
However, the existence of the Governing Board itself is in dispute, following President Mahama’s dissolution of all state boards upon taking office in January 2025.
The durbar’s agenda includes introducing Prof. Alhassan to staff as Director-General, despite unresolved questions about the legality of his reappointment.
Documents reveal that the NMC renewed his contract for a second term on 2 October 2023, backdating it to 1 October 2023, when his initial term expired.
However, the NMC issued a formal communication confirming this renewal only on 28 February 2024—nearly five months after the extension purportedly took effect.
Article 168 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution mandates the NMC to consult the President before appointing or renewing the Director-General’s term.
Yet, the renewal letter, signed by Deputy NMC Executive Secretary Alexander Bannerman, was not copied to the Presidency or the GBC Board, which had already been dissolved at the time. This omission has fuelled concerns about whether mandatory consultations took place.
Further complicating matters, the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department suspended Prof. Alhassan’s salary in March 2025, citing the absence of financial clearance for his renewed contract.
In a letter dated March 14, 2025, the Department stressed that such clearance was required to legitimise payments under the new contract and that retrospective approval from October 2023 was necessary to avoid the issue of unearned salaries.
The suspension raises questions about why salary payments proceeded for months without proper authorisation and why the NMC’s February 2024 letter conflicts with the October 2023 start date cited by the Accountant-General.
The inconsistencies have cast a shadow over the durbar’s purpose. With the GBC Governing Board dissolved, the legitimacy of its purported attendance remains unclear, undermining the event’s authority.
The Director-General’s position remains in limbo, while the NMC, insists on the validity of his renewal. The lack of financial clearance and presidential consultation suggests significant procedural breaches.
The Herald, which first cited the renewal letter, has highlighted these discrepancies and questioned the transparency of the process.
The suspension of Prof. Alhassan’s salary amplifies suspicions of irregularity, as the Accountant-General’s letter implies payments since October 2023 may have been unlawful without retroactive clearance.
As the April 10, durbar approaches, staff and observers await clarity on who authorised the meeting, the status of the Governing Board, and whether the Director-General’s reappointment will withstand constitutional and financial scrutiny.
The situation underscores broader concerns about adherence to due process in state appointments and the risks of unilateral decision-making in public institutions.
