The Board Chairman of the Ghana News Agency has justified the removal of the General Manager of the agency. Nana Apau Duah was asked to proceed on leave following workers’ agitation for his appointment to be terminated. The National Media Commission says Nana Apau Duah’s removal by the board cannot hold since it is the only body with the mandate to appoint or dismiss a Chief Executive of any state-owned media institution, including the GNA. But its Board chairman Kodwo Ahlijah says the board’s action was timely to salvage the worsening state of the organization. He told Joy News the sacked GNA boss had six years accumulated leave and had to proceed accordingly, especially when agitations for his removal have become rife. He explained the Board cannot not watch unconcerned whilst the situation in the Agency deteriorates. He dismissed assertions that the Board did not follow due procedures in axing the GNA boss from office. “Do we want the place to be gutted down by fire before we take action and whose responsibility; whose inaction,” he quizzed. “…We as a board have acted the way we deem right,” he said, adding the NMC can appoint somebody in his place right now but he cannot be there.” Play the attached audio for excerpts of the interview Source: Joy News/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana