GBC boss interdicted

Mr William Ampem Darko says he will not vacate his post

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has directed the immediate interdiction of the Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, William Ampem Darko, to pave way for investigations into alleged financial impropriety at GBC.

A letter from the SFO dated April 6 and addressed to the Board Chairman of GBC, requested the interdiction of Mr. Ampem Darko and three others by Friday, April 9.

The letter, signed by SFO's Deputy Executive Director, Justice A.Y. Tsar, and copied to the Minister of Information and Chairman of the National Media Commission, also requested the interdiction or stepping aside of Mr. Oscar Nshor, Director of Technical Production, Augustus Yamson, Director of Engineering, and Eric Odonkor, Chief Engineer, Transmission.

According to the letter, the SFO "is investigating a series of reports and allegations of financial impropriety by the Director-General of the GBC which border on huge financial loss to the state.

"The investigations have reached a critical stage where the continuous intimidating presence of certain suspects and witnesses at post is unduly interfering" with investigations, and compromising the sanctity of the outcome.

"We, therefore, request the interdiction (stepping aside) of the four mentioned above by Friday, April 9, 2010, to pave the way for smooth and wholesome investigations," it said.

It also asked the GBC board chairman to inform the affected persons to "report to the Executive Director of the SFO immediately, and to keep away from GBC until further notice."