The Ghana Journalist Association (GJA)has inaugurated five committees and two councils at a ceremony in Accra.
The committees were instituted in pursuant to articles 30 and 31 of the GJA 2004 Constitution.
The Committees are the Membership Vetting Committee, Professional Development Committee, Social Affairs Committee, International Relations Committee and Finance and Resource Mobilisation Committee.
Inaugurating them, the Executive Secretary of the NMC, Mr George Sarpong, in a remark, tasked the newly appointed committee members to work assiduously to promote high standards of professional journalism in the country.
“I entreat you to uphold the constitution of the association and ensure that the profession is more accountable and responsible to duty bearers to promote ethical journalism” he stated.
He urged them to put up their best to assist the association to act on their mandate.
He commended the executives for involving young members of the association which in effect would propel the association to greatness.
Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, the GJA President, in his welcome address congratulated the selected members for their support and willingness to work without reward.
MrsYaaOforiwaaAsare-Peasah, a former General Manager, Ghana News Agency, who spoke on behalf of other committee members pledged their support to work hard to uplift the image of the association.
MrDwumfour, the GJA President, chairs the Membership Vetting Committee.
Other members of the Committee are A. B. KafuiKanyi, Ghana News Agency; Seth Eyiah, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation; Mary Mensah, Daily Graphic, and Nana YaaKonadu, UTV.
Mr Kofi Yeboah, GJA General Secretary, is the Chairman of the Professional Development Committee.
The members are Tina Aforo-Yeboah, former Editor of The Spectator; Ekuoba Gyasi, Atinka FM; Daniel Kenu, Daily Graphic, and Ernest Obeng Anim, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.
The GJA National Organising Secretary, Dominic Hlordzi, is the chairman of the Social Affairs Committee.
The members are Grace Nana Esi Boateng, Oman FM; John Vigah, the Ghanaian Times; Peter Ankomah, Daily Dispatch, and Alice Tettey, Ghana News Agency, Cape Coast.
Mrs Linda Asante Agyei, the Vice President, GJA, chairs the International Relations Committee.
The members are Mr Ramsey Benamba, Ghana News Agency; Suleiman Mustapha, Daily Graphic; Nii Odartey Lamptey, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation; and Zambaga Rufai, Metro TV.
Mrs Audrey Dekalu, GJA Treasurer, chairs the Finance and Resource Mobilisation Committee.
The members are Donald Ato Dapatem, Daily Graphic; Samuel Ofori Ayim, Atinka FM; Mabel Aku Baneseh, CREDICOMMS Limited, and YaaAsare-Peasah.
The Ethics and Disciplinary Council is chaired by Col (Rtd) Mbawine Atintande, a former Director of the Public Affairs Directorate of the Ghana Armed Forces.
The members are Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Managing Editor, The Insight: Betty Apau-Oppong, former Director of News, GTV; Tanko Musah Zakaria, lecturer, University of Media, Arts and Communication Studies and Private Legal Practitioner, and Mavis Kitcher, former Director of News, Graphic Communications Group Limited.
Mr Seth J. Bokpe of the Fourth Estate is a non-member Secretary to the Council.
The National Executive has established the Project Management Committee (PMC) and the Social Media Visibility Committee, both chaired by Ms Rebecca Ekpe, the GJA Public Affairs Officer.
The members are Vance Azu, a former Night Editor, Daily Graphic; Michael Mawugbe, Editor, Sena Radio Online; Maame Efua Mensah, UTV; Komla Adom TV3, Emmanuel Amponsah, Editor, The Spectator; Fred Smith, Joy FM, and Kissi Yeboah, formerly of the Ghana News Agency. Kojo Mpraim of the Media Foundation for West Africa is a co-opted member of the PMC.
BY BENEDICTA GYIMAAH FOLLEY
