MEMBERS of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) who are in disagreement with the mandate of the current executives to conduct the upcoming GJA election want the Chairman of the Election Dispute Adjudication Committee (EDAC), Mr. Boadu Ayeboafo, to recuse himself from the hearing of their petition.
The group alleged in a petition that preliminary engagements with the chairman of EDAC showed he was likely to compromise the outcome of the hearing of their petition.
Two members of the Association, Charles Benoni Okine and Enoch Darfah Frimpong questioned the mandate of the current executives of the GJA to conduct the election even though their mandate officially expired in March 2016.
They also accused the executives of a constitutional breach in the timing for the establishment of the Election Dispute Adjudication Committee.
A letter by the petitioners and copied to the media over the weekend also appealed for the hearing to be re-scheduled to April 5, 2017 due to unavailability of the lawyer for the petitioners.
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has postponed indefinitely its upcoming election scheduled for March 31, 2017.
A statement signed by the Chairman of GJA’s Elections Adjudication Committee (EDAC), Ben B. Assorow, said they took the decision because they have received petitions appealing against some of the presidential nominees.
“In view of the appeals/petitions that have come before the GJA 2017 Elections Adjudication Committee (EDAC) and pursuant to Article 53 (v) of the GJA Constitution of 2004, the Elections Committee has postponed the elections scheduled for 31st March 2017,” the statement added.
The committee however, said a new date will be communicated as soon as the EDAC completes its work.
Incumbent GJA President, Affail Monney, is facing stiff opposition from some contenders including former president of the Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists (IFEJ).
But Lloyd Evans was disqualified by the GJA Election Committee on the grounds that he did not “pass the test as a member of the GJA in good standing,” a decision he had appealed.
Similarly, Mr. Matthew Mac-Kwame, who filed for the position of Vice President, also failed to meet the requirements under Article 47 (b) (iii) which states that “All members aspiring for executive positions at the National and Regional levels must be members in good standing at least ninety (90) days before elections.”
The committee however, cleared Mr. Johnnie Aryeetey and Mr. Affail Monney for the election.
Meanwhile, there is also a petition from some journalists who are challenging the authority of the GJA led by Affail Monney to organise the election.
They contend that Mr. Monney and his executives’ mandate expired as far back as March 2016.
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