GJA to hold elections

Accra, July 1, GNA - Elections of National Executives of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) would be held on Thursday August 21 while those for Regional Officers would come off on Thursday July 24.

Positions to be contested at the national level are President, Vice President, General Secretary, Deputy General Secretary, Treasurer and two Executive Members.


A statement issued on Tuesday and signed by Mr Bright Blewu, General Secretary of the GJA, said in line with the GJA Constitution, only full members, who have paid their dues up date, were qualified to contest and to vote.


It said in conformity with precedent, all candidates would be required to pay a non-refundable deposit at the filing of their nomination with the Elections Officer, Mr Mawusi Afele of the Ghana News Agency (GNA).


At the national level, deposits shall be 200,000 cedis for President, 150,000 cedis for Vice President and 100,000 cedis for the other positions.


For regional branch elections, deposit for the Chairman position shall be 100,000 cedis, Vice Chairman, 80,000 cedis and 40,000 cedis for the other positions.


Filing of nominations for the national elections shall last one week, opening at 0900 hours on Friday, July 25, at the GNA and closing on Thursday July 31 at 1700 hours.

The statement said those for regional branches would commence at 0900 hours on Wednesday July 2, and would close on Monday July 7, at 1700 hours.


In the Accra-Tema Metropolitan Area, polling stations would be at the Head Offices of the GNA, New Times Corporation, Graphic Communications Group Limited, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and Tema District Office of the GNA and at the Ghana International Press Centre.


The statement said polling would begin at 1000 hours and would end at 1700 hours.


The GJA Elections Officer and the Deputy, Miss Adwoa Asiedu of Ghanaian Times would conduct the Greater Accra Regional branch and national polls with the assistance of the Electoral Commission (EC).


It said every regional branch, except Greater Accra, would appoint its own Regional Elections Officer to conduct the elections with the assistance of the Commission.