GJA elections: Gayheart, Agbenu & Dwumfuor file to contest presidency

Three persons had filed their nominations to contest the presidency of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) at the close of nominations last Tuesday.

The trio who filed nominations for the GJA presidency are Mr Gayheart Edem Mensah, a Media Consultant, Mr Dave Agbenu of the New Times Corporation and Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor of the Atinka Media Village.

Mr Dave Agbenu handing over his nomination documents to Mr Peter Agbeko, a member of the GJA Elections Committee

Speaking to the Daily Graphic in a telephone interview, Mr Peter Agbeko, a member and Secretary of the GJA Elections Committee, who received some of the completed nomination forms for the GJA national executive elections, said the nominations would be screened and the nominees vetted before a presidential debate would be held.

He said all the nominations had been received at the GJA Secretariat and the dates for the vetting and presidential debate would be announced in due course.

Mr Albert Dwumfuor handing over his papers to Mr Peter Agbeko, member of the GJA Elections Committee

Other filings

Mrs Linda Asante-Agyei and Mrs Audrey Dekalu, both journalists at the GNA, were the only persons to file nominations for the vice-president and treasurer roles respectively, while Mr Kofi Yeboah, a lecturer at the Wisconsin International University College, and Mr Akwasi Agyeman of the Multimedia Group filed for general secretary of the GJA.

A former Public Affairs Officer of the GJA and Foreign Editor of the Daily Graphic, Ms Mary Mensah, and Mr Dominic Hlordze of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), filed for the role of organising secretary.

Mrs Rebecca Ekpe of the GBC and Mr Caesar Abagali of the GNA also filed for the public affairs officer role.

Background

Since Mrs Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie left the scene as president, the contest for the position has been acrimonious and controversial in recent years.

The contest between the current Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, and a former Director of Radio of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Mr Yaw Owusu-Addo, is a clear example.

The contest between the outgoing President of the GJA, Mr Roland Affail-Monney, and a former Editor of the Graphic Business, Mr Lloyd Evans, four years ago, is another example.

This year’s contest is not expected to be different judging from some of the names that have popped up.

See the list of persons who have filed nominations so far below;

President
Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor of Atinka Media Village
Mr Gayheart Mensah, a Media Consultant
Mr Dave Agbenu, Editor of Ghanaian Times

Vice President
Linda Asante-Agyei of the Ghana News Agency (GNA)

Treasurer
Mrs Audrey Dekalu, GNA

General Secretay
Mr Kofi Yeboah
Mr Akwasi Agyeman of the Multimedia Group

Ms Mary Mensah, the Foreign Editor of the Graphic Communications Group Limited

Organising Secretary
Ms Mary Mensah, the Foreign Editor of the Graphic Communications Group Limited
Dominic Hlordze of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.

Public Affairs
Mrs Rebecca Ekpe of the GBC
Caesar Abagali of the GNA