Barring any last-minute hitches, members of the Ghana Journalists Association will go to the polls on Friday, June 24, 2022, to elect new executives to stir the affairs of the association for the next four years.
The elections, originally scheduled to take place in 2020, following the expiration of the term of the old administration, have been characterised by controversies, petitions, and counter-petitions, compelling the Elections Committee to reschedule it.
On Friday, a total of 11 aspirants will contest national positions – President, General Secretary, Public Affairs and Organising Secretary.
Two persons are contesting for the Vice-President and Treasurer positions unopposed.
Three persons are vying to be president of the Association, namely— Mr Dave Agbenu, Mr Gayheart Mensah and Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour.
David Agbenu
Mr David Agbenu is a practising journalist who works with the New Times Corporation (NTC).
He is an Executive Management Member of NTC and currently the Editor of the Ghanaian Times.
He has worked for 30 years as a journalist.
Mr Agbenu has served in various capacities of the GJA, including being a former General Secretary for three years, Organising Secretary for six years and the GJA NTC Chapter Secretary for six years.
He holds Masters in Communication (Media Management) from the Ghana Institute of Journalism, a Degree in Communication Studies, Professional Masters in ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) and a Certificate in Online Journalism (Germany).
Gayheart Mensah
Mr Gayheart Mensah is the Chief Executive Officer of KomsKraft Consult.
He has experience in Journalism, Public Affairs, Corporate Communication, Media Relations, Reputation Management, Stakeholder Management, Personal Branding, Content Development, Advocacy, CSR, Project Communication, Risk Mitigation, Crisis Communications and Regulatory Management.
Mr Mensah has been in communications and Public Affairs for the past 34 years.
He started journalism with the Ghanaian Times Newspaper and worked variously as a Presidential, Parliamentary, and Court Correspondent, among others.
He joined Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) as News Editor of the “Graphic Showbiz” and moved on to become Assistant Features Editor of the “Daily Graphic.”
Albert Kwabena Dwumfour
Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, a journalist with many years of experience, is the current Organising Secretary of the GJA.
He is also the CEO and Managing Director of De Westend Communications and Media Consultancy, publishers of the Daily Analyst and Business Analyst Newspapers.
Mr Dwumfour is the Head of Corporate Affairs of Tobinco Group of Companies and a former Managing Director of Atinka Media Village.
He is also a business tycoon.
For the office of the General Secretary, Mr Akwasi Agyeman will be contesting the current General Secretary, Mr Kofi Yeboah.
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Akwasi Agyeman
Mr Akwasi Agyeman is a trained journalist with many years of experience and works with the Multimedia Group.
Kofi Yeboah
Mr Kofi Yeboah is a trained journalist with more than 25 years of experience.
He has worked at the Ghana News Agency, GBC radio and Graphic Communications Group Limited.
He served as the General Secretary of the GJA for three years.
He is an author and currently a lecturer at Wisconsin International University College.
The Organising Secretary position is also being contested by two persons:
Dominic Hlordze
Mr Dominic Hlordze is a practising journalist who currently works with the State Broadcaster, GBC.
Mr Hlordze has been the Secretary, Vice Chairman and Chairman for GJA, Tema region.
Mary Mensah
Ms Mary Mensah is also a practising journalist who works with Graphic Communications Group Limited.
She is the Foreign Page Editor at Daily Graphic.
Ms Mensah is currently the Head of Corporate Affairs at the GJA.
The candidates, some 24 hours to the elections, are crisscrossing one another storming the various media houses with campaign messages, some engaged in interpersonal and ‘house to house’ engagements.
The campaign appears to have reached a crescendo with some subtle personal attacks, but everything points to a peaceful, free, and fair poll tomorrow, Friday, June 24.
