Minister of Information, Mustapha Hamid has revealed his ministry has no control over state broadcaster, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).
According to him, he will be flouting the 1992 Constitution for he is seen to be controlling affairs at the state broadcaster.
Mustapha Hamid made the comment on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Monday while reacting to the fury that greeted the introduction of the TV license fee.
Government received a barrage of attack when the decision was announced with many threatening to vote against President Akufo-Addo in 2020 should he approve it.
Many have resolved not to pay though they risk facing prosecution arguing that programmes on the various outlets of GBC, especially its flagship TV station, GTV, were poorly packaged and hence does not deserve the fee.
In support, Mustapha Hamid blamed the Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) for the public criticisms that greeted an attempt to prosecute defaulters of the decades-old TV license.
He stated Dr. Kwame Akuffo Anoff-Ntow single-handedly took the decision to request the setting up of courts to prosecute persons who have not paid the annual tax.
But the Information Minister revealed that, there was little they could do because GBC is semi-autonomous.
The only thing government does for the state broadcaster; he noted is to pay for the salaries of staff and not to tell the Director General what to do.
As an immediate measure, Mustapha Hamid they called on National Media Commission (NMC) which regulates GBC to meet with the board to resolve the issue.
Ghana/Adomonline.com/Adwoa Gyasiwaa Agyeman
