The National Executive of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has constituted statutory and other committees to assist in the attainment of the objectives of the Association.
This was contained in a statement signed and released by the Association’s General Secretary, Kofi Yeboah. The statement said the committees would be inaugurated on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at the Ghana International Press Centre.
It indicated that the committees, which were established and constituted pursuant to articles 30 and 31 of the GJA Constitution 2004, are chaired by a member of the National Executive.
They include the Membership Vetting Committee, Professional Development Committee, Social Affairs Committee, International Relations Committee and Finance and Resource Mobilisation Committee.
Also constituted is the Ethics & Disciplinary Council enshrined under Article 42 of the GJA Constitution. The Membership Vetting Committee (MVC) is chaired by the GJA President, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour.
Members
Other members of the MVC include A. B. Kafui Kanyi, Ghana News Agency; Seth Eyiah, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation; Mary Mensah, Daily Graphic, and Nana Yaa Konadu, UTV.
The Professional Development Committee (PDC) is chaired by the GJA General Secretary, Kofi Yeboah.
The other members are Tina Aforo-Yeboah, former Editor of Spectator; Ekuoba Gyasi, Atinka FM; Daniel Kenu, Daily Graphic, and Ernest Obeng-Anim, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.
The GJA National Organising Secretary, Dominic Hlordzi, is the chairman of the Social Affairs Committee (SAC) whose members are Grace Nana Esi Boateng, Oman FM; John Vigah, Ghanaian Times; Peter Ankomah, Daily Dispatch, and Alice Tettey, Ghana News Agency, Cape Coast.
The International Relations Committee (IRC) is chaired by the GJA Vice President, Linda Asante Agyei, with the following as members: Ramsey Benambe, Ghana News Agency; Suleiman Mustapha, Daily Graphic; Nii Odartey Lamptey, Ghana Broadasting Corporation; and Zambaga Rufai, Metro TV.
The members of the Finance & Resource Mobilisation Committee (FRMC), which is chaired by the GJA Treasurer, Audrey Dekalu, are Donald Ato Dapatem, Daily Graphic; Samuel Ofori Ayim, Atinka FM; Mabel Aku Baneseh,CREDICOMMS Limited, and Yaa Oforiwaa Asare-Peasah, former Editorial Manager, Ghana News Agency.
With regards to the Ethics & Disciplinary Council, it has Col (Rtd) Mbawine Atintande, a former Director of the Public Affairs Directorate of the Ghana Armed Forces, as Chairman.
Others
The other members are Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Managing Editor, The Insight: Betty Apau-Oppong, former Director of News, GTV; Tanko Musah Zakaria, lecturer, University of Media, Arts and Communication Studies and Private Legal Practitioner, and Mavis Kitcher, former Director of News, Graphic Communications Group Limited.
Seth J. Bokpe of The Fourth Estate is a non-member Secretary to the Council.
Article 30(a)(vi) of the GJA Constitution mandates the National Executive to establish committees other than the statutory committees as it may deem appropriate.
In that respect, the National Executive has established the Project Management Committee (PMC) and the Social Media Visibility Committee (SMVC), both chaired by the GJA Public Affairs Officer, Rebecca Ekpe.
Other members of the PMC are Vance Azu, former Night Editor, Daily Graphic; Michael Mawugbe, Editor, Sena Radio Online; Maame Efua Mensah, UTV; Emmanuel Amponsah, former Editor, The Spectator; Fred Smith, Joy FM, and Kissi Yeboah, formerly of the Ghana News Agency.
Kojo Mpraim of the Media Foundation for West Africa is a co-opted member of the PMC.
In respect of the Social Media Visibility Committee, the other members are Gertrude Nyavie, Graphic Online; Richard Mensah, citifmonline; Komla Adom, TV3, and Mabel Adorkor Annan Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.
Solomon Fosu, an IT specialist, is a co-opted member of the committee. Service rendered by members of these bodies is voluntary.
The GJA, therefore, expressed its utmost gratitude to the members for their commitment to the good cause of the Association.