The Board of Directors of Graphic Communications Group Limited has renewed the appointment of Ransford Tetteh to another three-year term from 1st October 2010 to 1st October 2013. The decision to renew the mandate, Daily Guide learnt, has led to an avalanche of scheming against the award-winning Managing Director, Mohammed Awal and Editor of the Daily Graphic, Ransford Tetteh. The Daily Graphic Editor, who is also the President of the Ghana Journalists’ Association (GJA), escaped earlier attempts at breaching laid-down procedures to remove him from office by persons who perceive him to be a New Patriotic Party (NPP) sympathiser and therefore not amenable to the 2012 political campaign strategies of the party. The scheming, according to reports from deep throats, is being orchestrated by supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), both within this state media establishment and outside it, as this latest bout of manouvres was triggered by the renewal of Ransford Tetteh’s appointment as editor. According to grapevine information, the scheming entails an elaborate network of planting smear stories against both the MD and the Editor in pro-NDC newspapers and radio stations. Another plot is to create a semblance of discontent by workers against the editor and the MD in a company whose payment of bonuses is said to have been a consistent feature for a while now. An earlier attempt having failed to stall the renewal bid, the unfolding repeat performance is laden with an unusual vengeance as those behind it seek ‘the kill’ this time round. Some media establishments have already received unsigned petitions creating the impression of discontent among the workers. Both the MD and the editor declined to comment when Daily Guide sought their comments on the subject, but we can confirm that Ransford Tetteh’s renewal correspondence would be handed over to him today. The appointment of editors of state-owned media houses is within the purview of the various boards of the establishments, premised by and large upon the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officers. In the case of the renewal of the appointment of the editor of the Daily Graphic, the MD was said to have been unwavering in his support for the bid, thus incurring the ire of NDC sympathizers in the establishment. A source close to the board, speaking on anonymity, told Daily Guide that “If the MD renews the appointment of the editor, it is based on principles, having earlier promoted persons perceived to be active members of the ruling NDC. If the same MD decides now to have the editor’s appointment renewed, why not?” The smear campaign intends dousing the importance of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) Marketing Personality of The Year award bestowed on the Graphic Communications Group MD. The communications group, under the current management, has paid consistent mouth-watering dividends to the state over the past few years, a feat other state enterprises have failed to match. Source: Daily Guide