The Auditor-General (A-G), Mr. Edward Dua-Agyemang has delivered a scathing verdict on the issue regarding the salary of the General Manager of the Ghana News Agency (GNA). The A-G who locked horns with top shots of the National Media Commission (NMC) over the latter’s decision to fix a monthly salary of GH¢8,050 for the GNA boss without consulting the Presidency has argued that the move was simply unconstitutional. Following this development, the A-G has placed an embargo on the salary of GNA boss who until recently was earning a monthly salary of GH¢403. The NMC on the other hand has challenged the authority of the A-G to effect that move and also question whether or not it acted in consultation with the Presidency. Speaking to The Crusading GUIDE in a telephone interview, Mr. Dua-Agyemang made it clear that his beef was not about the quantum of money being paid to the GNA boss, Nana Appau Duah but rather the legality of the NMC's action. According to him "the right thing for them (NMC) to have done was to contact the Finance Ministry through the Information Ministry for an approval of the salary". He argued that although the constitutional mandate of the NMC under Article 168 of the Constitution to appoint heads of State media institution in consultation with President was in no doubt, the consultation was not limited to the disclosure of the identity of the prospective office holder only but also the financial terms and conditions of service, in particular whether the State can afford to pay the salary and allowances being offered. "I have been informed, however, that the financial terms and conditions of service and six year non-renewable nature of the contract in the case of Nana Appau Duah were not discussed with the office of the President", one of the correspondences issued by the A-G read. According to Mr. Dua- Agyemang what made the issue more worrying was the fact that GNA was not an income-generating entity but an institution which received subvention from government and drew it salaries from the consolidated fund. "If this was happening at Graphic Communications I wouldn't have had problems because they make their own money and can choose how much to pay their boss", he said. According to him, by the terms of the General Manager's contract, his monthly gross exceeded that of a cabinet minister including the Minister for Information who exercises a supervisory role over the four state media houses. Source: Crusading Guide