The Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Professor Amin Alhassan, has stated that there is no freeze on staff promotions at the State Broadcaster.
During the public hearing of PAC in Accra, the Chairman of Public Accounts Committee (PAC), inquired about the alleged staff promotion freeze at the Corporation.
Professor Alhassan explained that the issue was related to the Board’s decision, which Management had taken up.
He emphasized that promotions at GBC are based on existing vacancies, and until such vacancies are confirmed, promotions are withheld.
Currently, the new organogram is under approval, and work on the new Scheme of Service is ongoing.
Due to the pending confirmation of existing vacancies, the Board decided not to proceed with promotions for this year.
However, Professor Alhassan clarified that it is not a permanent freeze, and if the Scheme of Service is completed and approved in the coming months, promotions may resume.
Dr. Avedzi highlighted that there is a temporary one-year freeze, to which Professor Alhassan responded that they are hopeful that promotions can resume once the necessary processes are in place and approved by the Public Services Commission.
Professor Alhassan reiterated that, according to the guidelines of the Public Services Commission, promotions are contingent on the existence of vacancies, and individuals can only be promoted when such vacancies are available.
He emphasized that if there are no vacancies, employees will remain in their current positions.
“So, there is no freeze, it is only one year, and if for example, the Scheme of Service is completed in the next two or three months, we should be able to argue for the promotion process to keep in, but there is no freeze on promotion,” he said.
Dr Avedzi: “At least there is a freeze for one year.”
Prof Alhassan: “We still think that it is possible, Mr. Chairman, that we might have the promotions, if the process of Scheme of Service is done, and we do the necessary establishment, and it is approved by the Public Services Commission, we will go ahead and do that.”
The Director-General reiterated that in line with the guidelines of the Public Services Commission, one could not be promoted unless there was a vacancy, declaring that “and if there is no vacancy, you stay there.”
Accompanying the Director-General at the hearing was Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Minister of Information.