Three file to contest GJA Presidential Election

Accra, Sept. 22, GNA - At the close of nominations, three Journalists had filed their papers to contest the presidency of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to be rerun on October 3.

They are Ms Ajoa Yeboah-Afari, a Freelance Journalist, and Mr Breda Atta-Quayson, Features Editor and Ransford Tetteh, Political Editor, both of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, a statement issued by the GJA Elections Officer, Mr Mawusi Afele said on Monday.

The GJA at an extraordinary congress on September 12 decided by 68 votes to 31 to rerun the presidential election following the disqualification of Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, who won the first elections. The Congress also decided that only fully paid-up members as at July 31 2003, could contest the rerun. This meant that Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh was not eligible to contest.

Mr Yaw Owusu-Addo, Director of Radio, who had contested against Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh, challenged the results and called for the nullification of the vote.

He asked that he should be declared President since Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh was not a paid-up member of the Association at the time he filed his nomination.

Following the objection raised by Mr Owusu-Addo on the eligibility of Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh to contest the election, the GJA appointed a three-member Ad-Hoc Committee to look into the matter.

The Committee headed by Mr Yonny Kulendi upheld Mr Owusu-Addo's petition and nullified the candidature and subsequent election of Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh. It then declared Mr Owusu-Addo President-elect.

However, a section of the members of the GJA challenged the verdict of the Kulendi Committee and threatened to break away if Mr Owusu-Addo were to be sworn in as President.