Ghana Institute of Journalism Alumni of North America elects leaders

Ghana Institute of Journalism Alumni of North America [GIJANA], a group of former Ghanaian Journalists and Public Relations professionals currently residing in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and US Territories, has elected Dr. Daniel Ato Aidoo as its first President.

Dr. Aidoo, a former reporter and assistant, Features Desk, Daily Graphic, Accra, Ghana, garnered 93.7 percent of the votes to lead the over 65-member strong organization. Doreen Awuku-Agyeman was elected Vice President, Juliana Antwi, Treasurer and Akosua Larbi-Osei, Press Secretary.

The Organization's 5-member Governing Council tasked with the responsibility of advising the President and his Executives has been endorsed by the General Assembly. They are Messrs. Angelo Ekow Akyeampong (Fisho), Peter Francisco, Maibey Alando, and Ben Owusu-Sekyere, The President in consultation with the Governing Council will appoint the fifth member.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Aidoo said "when one wins an election, further examination is curtailed, except to accept congratulations, and that it is not out of place for people to easily and wrongly assume that election victories have something to do with the individual's rare qualities as a person".

Aidoo said "winning an election only measures just a part of us, it does not particularly define us beyond extraordinary or superior characteristics". He reminded those who failed to win that "those moments can perhaps be more self-defining than how winning an election could ever be, we may be unique in many ways, but we also have to accept that others can disapprove our uniqueness".

He admonished members to be conscious of their past, "the bond of friendship that has united us since our time in the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) and beyond, and reaffirm their common faith in each other towards seeking the interest of our alma mater, and the welfare of all alumni of GIJ in North America".

Signed

Akosua Larbi-Osei

Press Secretary

GIJANA