By Patrick Ofoe Nudzi

Accra, June 13, GNA – Aspirants for the Ghana Journalist Association’s (GJA) national and regional executive positions have balloted for their places on the ballot paper for the election scheduled for June 30, this year.

For the national executive positions, 12 aspirants balloted under six categories which are President, Vice President, General Secretary, Organising Secretary, Public Affairs and Treasurer.

Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, current GJA President who is seeking reelection, picked number ‘one,’ and his only opponent, Mr Charles Yao Mawusi, a Media and Communication Consultant, picked number ‘two’ on the ballot.

For the Vice President office, Madam Mary Mensah, Foreign Editor of the Daily Graphic and former GJA Public Affairs Officer, picked number ‘one,’ whilst Madam Rebecca Ekpe, Editor at GBC, and the current GJA Public Affairs Officer chose number ‘two.’

Contesting for the office of the General Secretary, Mr Dominic Hlordzi, the current GJA Organising Secretary who is also with GBC, picked number ‘one,’ and his contender, Mr Akwasi Agyeman who lost the position on two occasions picked number ‘two.’

Mr Maxwell Kudekor, the outgoing Eastern Regional Chairman and Suleiman Mustapha, the Acting Editor of Graphic Business who are vying for the Organising Secretary, chose number ‘one’ and number ‘two’ positions respectively, on the ballot.

For the Public Affairs office, Mr Zadok Kwame Gyesi, a former journalist of Graphic Online, now a freelance journalist, picked number ‘one’ and his contender, Mr Caesar Abagali, an Editor with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) who contested the position in 2022 but lost, picked number ‘two.’

Madam Theodora A. Amedetor Yakanu from the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), chose number ‘one’ on the ballot for the office of the Treasurer whilst Mrs Bertha Badu-Agyei, Editor and Head of Gender Desk at GNA, picked number ‘two.’

Mr Samuel Dottoh Kwaah, Deputy Director, Electoral Services, Electoral Commission and Technical Advisor to the GJA Election Committee, said the balloting had been successful, adding that they were going to start printing the Notice of Poll and ballot papers.

He said: “The Election Committee is working to ensure the election is held on June 30 as planned and I am expecting the candidates to do a very clean campaign, ensure that they reach out to the electorates – those who are in good standing and tell them why they want to be voted for.”

Mr Kwaah said the election would be held in 16 centres where five centres would be in Accra, one in Tema and ten in other regions the election would be taking place, adding that the regional executive election results would be declared by the presiding officers for the winners to be known there.

“For the national executive election results, the presiding officers in the regions will announce the results at the various centres and communicate the figures to the
Election Committee at the Ghana International Press Centre where collation and declaration will take place,” he noted.

At the regional level, 17 candidates out of 49 picked their ballot places to contest under four categories which are the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.

A total of 31 candidates went unopposed whilst nomination for the position of the Vice Chairman in the Volta Region had been extended.

The GJA Election Committee extended it because one of the candidates withdrew at the close of nomination and an opportunity had been given again for filing of nominations from Monday, June 10 to 17 where vetting would be done immediately after that exercise.

Mr Yao Mawusi, the Chief Executive Officer of Trans – Media Network and Presidential Candidate, told the Ghana News Agency that one of his visions was to introduce projects for the growth of members in the regions.

“The GJA is a welfare association but it does not have a welfare policy and it is also not attracting donor support to build members’ capacity. So that is one of the things I will be doing as the GJA President. The balloting was simple and seamless and I applaud those in charge,” he said.

Mr Kenteman Nii-Laryea Sowah, a member of the Albert Kwabena Dwumfour Campaign Team, said the incumbent President had rebranded the Association and made it vibrant for members since the GJA had low visibility before his tenure.

“The achievements are quite visible and many, we have an ongoing programme with Wisconsin University College where our members are admitted to pursue programmes for a period of four years. i can say with a lot of confidence that we are going to win not less than 98 per cent of the votes,” he said.

Mrs Badu-Agyei said: “The process has been smooth and we are hoping that by June 30 when the election is done we should have the new executives to steer the affairs of the Association. The ideas i bring on board are that we have an improved welfare, more sources of income apart from our dues and a strengthened register.”