Government studying Court's ruling on appointment of Media heads
Government studying Court's ruling on appointment of Media heads
Accra (Greater Accra), 27th January 2000
The Executive says it is studying yesterday's ruling by the Supreme Court declaring the appointment of heads and governing bodies of the state-owned media made by the President "null and void" and will speak with other stakeholders to carve the way forward.
Mr. John Mahama, Minister of Communications told journalists at a post-cabinet briefing on Thursday that government will issue a statement on the ruling when it has adequately studied and subsequently finished consultations with the key players, including the National Media Commission (NMC).
"We received a copy of the ruling yesterday in the evening. We are now studying it and will come out after speaking with the necessary stakeholders," Mr. Mahama, whose ministry is challenged by the ruling, said in a side-kick to the briefing.
He explained that government's quest to speak with the stakeholders on the way forward will not mean contesting the ruling.
The Supreme Court, by a unanimous decision, on Wednesday declared null and void all government appointments of Chairmen, other members of governing bodies and chief executives of the state-owned Media made after 1992.
The court said such appointments were done in contravention of Article 168 of the constitution, which deals with the appointment of chief executives and board members of state-owned media.
The article states that the National Media Commission (NMC) shall appoint the chairmen and other members of the governing bodies of public corporations managing the state-owned media.
The court's ruling was contained in a judgement delivered in a case in which the NMC, in 1997, filed a writ against the Attorney-General claiming that the Government acted unconstitutionally by making such appointments. It therefore averred that those appointments be declared null and void.
Organisations affected by the ruling are the Ghana News Agency (GNA), New Times Corporation (NTC), Graphic Corporation and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).
GRi