Ransford pledges to unite GJA members if elected as president

Koforidua, Sept. 30, GNA- A Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) presidential candidate, Mr Ransford Tetteh, has pledged to make unity among members and professionalism his primary goal if elected in Friday's re-run election.

"Assumption of leadership position of the association is not just an opportunity offered for self promotion but a call to commitment to a cause of advancing the aims of the association," he said.

Addressing the Ghana News Agency (GNA) Regional Chapter of the Association at Koforidua on Monday, as part of his campaign in the Eastern Region, Mr Tetteh said following the controversies generated within the membership over the annulled presidential election and the best journalist award, the GJA needs someone capable of bringing all the factions together.

"We need somebody who had been involved in GJA affairs over the years to meet the challenges and I think I am equal to the job at hand," he declared, adding, "I have done my apprenticeship in this regard through my leadership at various levels of the association's structures. Mr Tetteh, onetime chairman of the GJA Chapter of the Graphic Communications Group, Chairman the Eastern regional branch and also past chairman of Greater Accra branch said he built the association to the "envy" of others.

"I think we need somebody to step into the big shoes of Gifty. Someone who can advance the course of journalism as the association has set to do over the last couple of decades." He promised to provide such kind of leadership "not because of my being a repository of wisdom and knowledge but I believe I can offer the leadership that will involve everybody to make the association the prestigious one everybody would wish to belong to." Mr Tetteh noted that so long as every member felt being part of the decision-making process, the seemingly differences of "state/private, anti/pro-government, trained and untrained journalist dichotomy" would be amicably resolved to promote the desired unity and dynamism in the association.

"For this reason, I will want to ensure that we strictly uphold the constitution of the GJA to resolve all issues, to empower regional branches and Chapters to enjoy the dues that should go to them to embark on local or regional initiatives.

"During my tenure, GJA will be in partnership with training institutions such as the Ghana Institute of Journalism and School of Communication Studies, Legon, to provide continuous education for all journalists, particularly those without formal professional training, to upgrade their status and performance," said Mr Tetteh, who is the Political Editor of the "Daily Graphic."

He said under his leadership, the GJA would liase with the National Accreditation Board to ensure that some journalism training institutions would be dully accredited so that their certificates will be recognised internationally. 30 Sept. 03