RE: DISPUTE ABOUT THE MANDATE OF THE EXECUTIVES OF THE GHANA JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION AND THE LEGALITY OF THE GJA ELECTIONS OF 2017
I write in the spirit of Article 11 (a) and (e) of the 2004 Constitution of the Ghana Journalists Association and as such, plead with your honorable committee to give me audience to be a party in responding to a letter written by Charles Benoni Okine and Enoch Darfah Frimpong, contesting the mandate of the Executive committee and elections committee of the GJA respectively.
In a letter widely circulated on social media and addressed to the GJA Election Adjudication Committee with the caption, DISPUTE ABOUT THE MANDATE OF THE EXECUTIVES OF THE GHANA JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION AND THE LEGALITY OF THE GJA ELECTIONS OF 2017 , the duo purportedly raised some constitutional issues which in their view make the 2017 elections of the Association null and void but I will like to draw the attention of your honorable Committee to the facts that those articles and clauses raised in their letter cannot and should not be a basis of postponing or cancelling the elections which is to be held in less than ten days from now.
I want to refresh your memories on article 34 b (i) and 35 (iv) of the 2004 constitution of the Ghana Journalists Association and appear herein as a participant and witness of the last Emergency General Meeting that accepted a motion which was unanimously seconded by members of the said meeting that, elections should be held before the end of the first quarter of 2017.
Mr. Chairperson, any act by any person or group of persons to influence, any decision to cancel or put on hold the elections slated for Friday March 31st, 2017 would amount to an action in retrogression and a serious breach of the guiding principles of the Ghana Journalists Association.
I want to hasten to add that, Charles Benoni Okine and Enoch Darfah Frimpong were not present at the last meeting held on 26 August, 2016 which accepted to hold elections by the close of the first quarter of 2017. By this, they have exhibited bad faith for the association.
I urge your honorable committee to disregard any attempt by any group to stall this election since adherence to such pressure will mar the image and reputation of our cherished association.
Mr. Chairperson, I wish to reiterate that, I write in the spirit of Article 11 (a) (b) (d) (e) (g) and particularly (f) and request that you grant me audience if the letter by the duo will be heard by the committee.
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