3.4 The body’s decisions on licensing in particular are informed by a broadcasting policy developed in a transparent and inclusive manner. ANALYSIS: The NCA’s activities are informed by the Act establishing it, which is silent on issues of broadcasting policies. There is no comprehensive broadcasting legislation but only an array of pieces of legislation on broadcasting. There is no broadcasting policy in place and the NCA’s activities are neither transparent nor inclusive. SCORES: Individual scores: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 Average score: 1.0 3.5 The public broadcaster is accountable to the public through a board representative of society at large and selected in an independent, open and transparent manner. ANALYSIS: The selection of Board members of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation follows a process of wide consultation. Members of the National Media Commission submit nominations after consulting with their institutions and constituencies. Assessments of the nominations are carried out – following criteria such as regional and gender balance - and a short list is presented to the President of the Republic in “consultations”. The President is then expected to submit his comments to the NMC. In cases where the President has any objection or reservation about nominations, he is expected within a specified period to provide reasons for such reservations or objections. If after the set date no responses have been received, the NMC goes ahead with the appointment process. Consultation with the President is a constitutional requirement, but legal circles are debating what such “consultation” really entails. 17