The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) is impressing on the management of TV3 Network to “immediately reinstate” the over 30 technicians who were summarily dismissed for protesting over their service conditions.
According to management, the workers were dismissed for “wearing red shirts on Wednesday 22nd February, 2017, tying doors of offices with red fabric, writing of graffiti on the premises threatening management and hoisting of a red flag on the company’s transmission on Wednesday 22 February 2017 without authority from management.”
However, the umbrella body of journalists in Ghana feels the management of TV3 needs to approach the issue with a human face.
A statement issued in Accra by the GJA, signed by its president Affail Monney, found TV3 management’s justification for the dismissals as lame, capricious and highly unacceptable.
“To demonstrate their grave concern about the issue, the GJA President, Affail Monney, and General Secretary, Dave Agbenu, today met management of TV3 led by the Marketing Director, Efo Dzakpasu who said he could not say anything beyond the statement issued by management. He even demanded a formal letter from the GJA before any discussion could take place.
“If Mr. Dzakpasu’s posture reflected the stand of management then pressure from all fronts needs to be exerted on TV3 Network to humanize and reverse their decision to summarily dismiss the workers.
“TV3 in its statement prides itself on being the leading TV station in Ghana. If this is true, then management must bear in mind that the company rode on the back of the workers to attain that height. The workers therefore, deserve to be treated with utmost respect and sensitivity and not, the high handedness which has regrettably characterized industrial relations in TV3.
“The GJA pledges to promptly rally to the defense of all media workers who are unjustifiably treated by management. As a long term solution to the mistreatment and poor conditions of media workers, GJA is expected to receive its bargaining certificate from the TUC after its General Council Meeting in June, 2017.
“It is in the light of this that the GJA is convinced that the rights of the workers have been trampled upon and unequivocally calls for their immediate reinstatement. Else it shall be compelled to invoke Article 23 of the 1992 constitution which enjoins administrative bodies and officials to act fairly and reasonably and comply with the requirements imposed on them by law,” the GJA statement said.
