Accra, April 15, GNA - Following the directive of the Board of Directors of the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to the General Manager, Nana Appau Duah, to proceed on an indefinite leave from Friday, April 15 2011, the National Media Commission (NMC) has issued the following statement:

"The attention of the National Media Commission has been drawn to a story on Joy FM suggesting that the Board of Directors of the Ghana News Agency has asked the General Manager to proceed on leave. "The Commission wishes to remind the general public that the authority to appoint, dismiss or otherwise direct a Chief Executive of any state-owned media, including the Ghana News Agency, to proceed on leave rests with the Media Commission. Consequently, any directive purported to have been issued by anybody other than the National Media Commission has no basis in law.

The Commission wishes to assure Ghanaians that concerns raised by the staff of GNA against the General Manager are being examined by the Legal and Free Expression Committee of the Commission. In due course, all parties may have the opportunity to present their case before the Committee for effective and effectual resolution of all matters at the Agency.

"In the meantime, we call on all stakeholders to exercise restraint and commit themselves to due process and the rule of law." The statement dated April 14, 2011 was signed by Mr George Sarpong, Executive Secretary.