A former president of the Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists (IFEJ), Mr Lloyd Evans, has been disqualified from contesting the presidency of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).
A statement from the GJA Elections Committee said Mr. Evans is not in good standing per the rules of engagement.
“Mr Lloyd Evans, who was vying for the position of President, failed to meet the requirement 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 the elections.
“Records available to the Committee indicate that Mr Evans paid his membership dues covering 2015 on 5th Dec. 2016 and that for 2016 on 14th Feb, 2017. In view of these, Mr Evans is also caught by the 90-day rule and therefore disqualified,” the chairman of the Election Committee Ben. Assorow said.
Below is the full statement:
March 17, 2017
QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FOR THE 2017 GJA ELECTIONS
National Executive positions
Pursuant to part 10 of the GJA Constitution: GJA ELECTIONS AND ELECTORAL PROCESSES, and on the 13th Day of March 2017, the GJA Elections Committee vetted 14 candidates for various national Executive positions.
The following members have qualified to contest the positions they are vying for as follows;
President:
Mr Johnnie Aryeetey – Ghana Broadcasting Corporation
Mr Affail Monney – Media Consultant
Vice President:
Linda Asante-Adjei – Ghana News Agency
Tina Aforo-Yeboah – The Spectator
Francis Kokutse – Indo-Asian News Service
General Secretary:
Dave Agbenu – Ghanaian Times
Kofi Yeboah – Freelance
Treasurer:
Audrey Dekalu – Ghana News Agency
Organising Secretary:
Vance Azu – Junior Graphic
Albert Kwabena Dwumfour
Public Affairs:
Nii Adjei Klu – Ghana Broadcasting Corporation
Mary Mensah – Daily Graphic
The following members failed to qualify:
Mr Lloyd Evans, who was vying for the position of President, failed to meet the requirement 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 the elections.”
Records available to the Committee indicate that Mr Evans paid his membership dues covering 2015 on 5th Dec. 2016 and that for 2016 on 14thFeb, 2017. In view of these, Mr Evans is also caught by the 90-day rule and therefore disqualified.
2. Mr Matthew Mac-Kwame, who filed for the position of Vice President, 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.”
Records available to the Committee indicate that by the 20th February 2017, Mr Mac-Kwame had not paid his membership dues for two (2) years. In view of these, Mr Mac-Kwame is caught by the 90-day rule and therefore disqualified.
ii. Regional Executive Positions
For the regions, the following failed to qualify under the following reasons:
Late payment:
Mr Amponsah Moses Ohene (Tema)
Mr Zambaga Rufai Samini (Western Region)
Not a member:
Mr Ampem Darko-Koranteng (Eastern Region)
Mr Anthony Goode Jnr (Brong Ahafo)
Mr Kingsley Nana A. Buadu (Central Region)
Membership under 3 years:
Mr Jones Anlima (Volta Region)
Not a paid-up member:
Mr Mc-Anthony Dagyenga (Eastern region)
Except those disqualified above, the Committee wishes to state that all other candidates who have filed for regional positions are qualified.
Special Cases:
The Committee found special cases. In some regions, either aspirants did not qualify, or no nominations were filed.
Article 48 (C) (i) states that: “Where at the close of nomination no candidate stands nominated, the Elections Committee shall inform the National Executive accordingly. (ii) “The National Executive shall authorize the Elections Committee to extend the period for nominations for that position for not more than seven (7) calendar dates.
In view of this, the date for reopening of nominations for such positions will soon be announced.
Common platform for candidates at the national level:
The GJA Elections Committee in collaboration with the Media Foundation for West Africa is organising a common platform for all qualified candidates on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at 3 pm at the Ghana International Press Centre.
In service of GJA and mother Ghana
SIGNED
Ben. Assorow.
Chairman
P.S – Other members of the Elections Committee are Osei Kwadwo Adow (Esq), Mrs Sylvia Annoh and Mr Kwasi Kpodo.
