GJA sets up Election Dispute Committee

Accra, Aug.25, GNA - The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has set up an Ad-hoc Election Dispute Committee to investigate the stalemate over last week's election of a President for the Association. The three-member committee, to be chaired by Mr Mawusi Afele, GJA Electoral Officer would commence hearing on August 26 at the Ghana International Press Centre at 1000 hours.

A Press Release signed by Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, outgoing President of GJA, in Accra, on Monday said the Committee is to announce its verdict on or before Wednesday, August 27.

Other members of the Committee are Mrs Bernadette Chinery-Hesse and Mr Yonny Kulendi, both legal practitioners.

The term of reference of the Committee is to investigate all issues at the centre of the electoral dispute between Mr Yaw Owusu-Addo, Director of Radio; Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, who lost the contest for the Presidency to Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, Editor of the Daily Graphic.

The Committee would determine the legibility or otherwise of Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh to stand for the elections, which is the centre of the controversy.

Mr Addo lodged a complaint to the GJA Electoral Officer alleging that Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh was not a paid up member of the Association at the time he filed his nomination papers and should not have, therefore, held himself for election.

The two are entitled to attend the hearing with the counsel of their choice, the statement said.