The Divisional Union and Senior Management Staff Union of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) have presented a joint petition to the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations and copied the Chief of Staff, Minister of National Security, Speaker of Parliament, among other personalities.
According to the aggrieved staff, a directive by the Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to the Controller and Accountant General has been prosecuted despite it not grounded in law.
“We find the decision very detestable on the grounds that it contravenes the 1992 Constitution and the Labour Law, Act 651 of 2003,” the petition said.
It added that not only was the withdrawal against the Labour Act, but neither was due process followed before the decision was prosecuted.
“The Unions, in our humble opinion, wish to state that the Controller and Accountant General’s Department under the public Financial Management Act 921 cannot just act on a mere or unanimous letter without express permission from the Ministry of Finance.
“The best the Controller and Accountant General’s Department could have done was to have investigated the allegation.
“However, there was no investigation, a situation the Unions humbly view as a violation of the 1992 Constitution and the principle of natural justice.”
The unions are requesting the sector minister to call the CEO of the Commission, Ing. Ben Arthur, to order “and ask him to reverse the illegal directive”.
“We also pray that you use your good office to prevail on the Controller and Accountant General’s Department to restore the allowances because the removal is a violation of natural justice as spelt out in the 1992 Constitution.
“It is also grievous offence to the Labour Law Act 651,” concluded the petition jointly signed by Chairman of the Divisional Union Sam Nat Kevor and Chairman of Senior Management Staff Union Tahiru Abdul-Razak Mohammed.