The much awaited general elections of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) is to come off latest by October 3, 2021 following an out-of-court settlement reached between the Association and an aggrieved member.
Ms Caroline Boateng of Daily Graphic in May this year, sought an injunction on the elections challenging the eligibility of the Affail Monney administration to oversee the polls.
But, after reaching an amicable agreement under the auspices of the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, on Friday September 3, the parties agreed that handing over and swearing in of the new administration be done within two weeks of declaration of results.
“The parties submit that within one week from the date of the agreement, the GJA 2021 Election Supervision Committee shall be established [and would be] made up of a representative of each the aspirants for national office positions and each of the regions, to work with the Elections Committee of the GJA to conduct the elections.
“Consequently, aspirants for national office positions and the regional branches are expected to submit names of their nominees to the Chairman of the Elections Committee at the Ghana International Press Centre in Accra before the close of day on Monday September 6, 2021,” a statement issued by the General Secretary of the GJA, Kofi Yeboah, communicating the resolution, read in part.
According to the statement, the interim Election Committee would ensure that a voters’ register of members in good standing, including retirees and past executives, shall be generated or compiled from the records of the GJA Secretariat, and such members shall cast their own vote.
“Within its mandate, the Committee shall submit for publication by the Elections Committee a calendar of activities for the elections and ensure the non-interference in the election process by the GJA Executives or National Council or anybody whatsoever,” the statement added.
The parties further resolved that the Elections Dispute Committee shall be empowered to be responsible for all election-related disputes, and in the event of disputes unresolved by then Committee, same shall be referred to mediation pursuant to ADR Act, 2010, with a mediator appointed by the President of the Accra Bar Association within 48 hours of delivery of dispute to the Accra Bar President.
Such disputes, the statement said, shall be submitted within 48 hours to Counsel for the parties for onward delivery to the President of the Accra Bar to be resolved within 24 hours of the appointment of the mediator.
Editor of the Ghanaian Times and a former General Secretary of the GJA, David Agbenu, Organising Secretary of the GJA, Albert Dwumfuor, and a media consultant, Gayheart Edem Mensah, are slugging it out for the presidency of the association.
Mrs Linda Asante-Agyei, and Mrs Audrey Dekalu, both of the GNA, are in the race for Vice President and Treasurer of the Association respectively with Mr Yeboah and Akwasi Agyeman of the Multimedia Group, battling it out for the office of the General Secretary.
Ms Mary Mensah, Daily Graphic and Mr Dominic Hlordze of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), are aiming to be elected the organising secretary for the next administration.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
