Accra, July 6, GNA - Mrs Linda Asante-Agyei main contender to the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) National Treasurer slot on Monday set-out as a priority to revamp the association's welfare package. The tasks includes initiating dialogue with other executive members to impress on Government and all other media employers at all levels to evolve means of providing better welfare and adequate protection to journalists, including insurance packages in view of the dangers associated with journalism.

Mrs Asante-Agyei, a Journalist with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) who is contesting the National Treasurer slot against Mrs Rejoice Esi Asante, Public Relations Officer of the European Union (EU) Office in Accra told GNA that journalists - both in the private and state owned media deserved better pension schemes to ensure that "our senior citizens retire with dignity".

"If elected I would also organise support for the GJA Local Chapters across the country with resources; they need financial empowerment to operate but unfortunately they are overshadowed by the National Association.

"We need to collaborate as a National Executive to ensure that the local chapters, which I consider as the branches of the main tree were not starved of resources to operate.They need some kind of training especially the treasurers on how to mobilise funds and other required resources to run the Association at the Chapter and Regional levels," Mrs Asante-Agyei noted.

Mrs Asante-Agyei commended former GJA Executives for their contribution towards the growth of the association over the years and said "we appreciate your efforts in lifting high the image of our great and formidable Association."

The GJA Treasurer aspirant expressed concern about activities of the "Paparazzi," whose operations continued to dent the image of Ghanaian Journalists and called for collaboration between GJA and the Institute of Public Relations to flush-out the charlatans from the system.

Speaking on her campaign trail, Mrs Asante-Agyei said the unprofessional attitude of those involved was a disgrace to the profession and the image of GJA in particular. When asked how she was going to combine her demanding work as a senior journalist working with the only wire service in the country on health reporting, and her other responsibilities as a wife and a mother, she explained that she had the support of her husband, superiors and all other colleagues.

"I must confess that my husband has been very supportive throughout the challenging times in my profession, he has given me his word to lend his support even in my work as the GJA Treasurer," an elated Mrs Asante-Agyei said.

She gave the assurance that she was very confident as well as competent to handle the funds of the Association. "I believe that being honest, available, transparent, trustworthy, hardworking, reliable, sociable and self-controlled as well as team player are key to any successful venture and with the position I have chosen, I would be there to serve, if elected," she said adding: "I have all these qualities to help move the association higher on its ladder". Mrs Asante-Agyei said she was committed towards making use of the rich legacy left behind by Mrs Yaa Oforiwah Asare-Peasah, the out-going National Treasurer.