GJA settles case out of court; set to hold elections by October 3

Following an out-of-court settlement of a case between one Ms Caroline Boateng and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), the association will now hold its national and regional elections by October 3, 2021.

This case was in relation to a suit filed against the president of the GJA, Roland Affail Monney, and others, for extending their tenure of office, which ended nearly a year ago.

A statement signed and issued in Accra by the General Secretary of the GJA, Mr Kofi Yeboah, “the parties agree that the GJA elections shall be held one month after the signing and coming into force of the agreement today, Friday, September 3, 2021.”

“This means the stayed national and regional elections shall now be held on or before October 3, 2021, with the parties further agreeing that handing over and the swearing-in of new executives shall be held within two weeks after the declaration of election results,” the statement added.

Providing details on the development, Mr Yeboah, said that the plaintiff and the defendants, represented by Mr Monney, signed the agreement, which was procured under the auspices of the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II.

With this agreement, the GJA 2021 Elections Supervision Committee is to be established within one week from the date of the agreement.

This committee would be made up of a representative of each of the aspirants for national office positions and each of the regions for the conduct of the elections.

Consequently, aspirants for national office positions and the regional branches are expected to submit the names of their nominees to the Chairman of the GJA elections committee by close of work today, September 6, 2021.

The submission is to be done at the Ghana International Press Centre, Accra, which houses the national office of the GJA.

With that done, the committee shall ensure that a voters’ register of members in good standing shall be generated or compiled from the records of the GJA Secretariat for the voting.

The members in good standing are those who have paid their dues up to date, including retirees and past executives.

“Within its mandate, the committee shall submit for publication by the Election Committee a calendar of activities for the elections and ensure the non-interference in the election process by the GJA Executive or the National Council or anybody whatsoever,” the statement had it.

Dispute adjudication committee

The statement also noted that the parties further agreed that the Elections Dispute Adjudication Committee (EDAC) of the GJA should be empowered to be responsible for all election-related disputes.

In the event of disputes unresolved by the EDAC, it would be referred to mediation, pursuant to the ADR Act, 2010 (Act 798), with a mediator appointed by the President of the Accra Bar within 48 hours of delivery of the dispute.

Such is to be resolved within 24 hours of the appointment of the mediator,” it said.

Per the agreement, following the out-of-court settlement, the parties agreed to be bounded by an absolute confidentiality clause, and terms that would be subject to the usual default clause.

“That means these terms of settlement embody the entire understanding of the parties in respect of the matters contained in, or referred to, it and there are no promises, terms, conditions or obligation, oral or written, express or implied, other than contained in these terms of settlement,” the statement indicated.

Last GJA elections

The Association last held its elections on September 29, 2017, and the new executives were inaugurated into office on Friday, November 17, 2017, for a three-year term.

This saw the coming into office, Mr Monney as president, with Mrs Linda Asante-Adjei as the Vice president, and Mr Yeboah as the Secretary.

Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour was the Organising Secretary, Mrs Audrey Deleku, Treasurer, and Ms Mary Mensah as the Public Affairs Officer respectively.

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