By Sarah Baafi
A Member of the New Patriotic Party National Communication Team, Ellen Ama Daaku, has called on state institutions and agencies indebted to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) to immediately settle their outstanding bills, describing the situation as unfair and damaging to the national broadcaster.
Speaking on GTV’s Headlines programme during a discussion on GBC and its legacy debt, Ms Daaku stressed that organisations that make use of GBC’s services but fail to pay are undermining the corporation’s ability to function effectively.
“Those owing GBC should come and pay. We don’t like that,” she said, adding that it was unacceptable for well-resourced state institutions to withhold payments while GBC struggles financially.
She expressed concern over reports that some government agencies, including critical state institutions, owe GBC millions of cedis, citing an instance where about GH¢13 million owed to the corporation has become a major burden. According to her, such amounts, though manageable within the budgets of the debtor institutions, have serious consequences for GBC’s operations.
Ms Daaku noted that the persistent debt situation has negatively affected staff welfare, accommodation, and retention, pointing out that trained professionals are leaving the corporation due to poor working conditions. “You train people, invest so much in them, and you can’t expect them to stay when things are not going well,” she stated.
She also urged GBC’s management to be more assertive in recovering its funds, suggesting that negotiations and, where necessary, legal action should be considered to compel defaulting agencies to pay. “Sometimes, you have to demand your money. It’s unfair that people use your services and refuse to pay,” she added.
Commending GBC for its nationwide presence and role in reaching communities private media houses often cannot, Ms Daaku emphasized that the corporation deserves better treatment after decades of service to the country. She further encouraged stakeholders to ensure that engagements with political leaders translate into concrete action, not just ceremonial visits.
Her comments come amid ongoing discussions about the proposed GBC levy and the broader challenge of legacy debts owed to the state broadcaster, reigniting calls for sustainable funding and accountability across public institutions.
