Is the GJA Scheming To Impose Its Favourite as Ashanti Regional Chairperson?

There seem to be clandestine attempts by some persons within the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Executive body to twist the arms of the elected Chairman of the Ashanti Regional branch, Mr Kofi Adu Domfeh, news editor at the Multimedia Ghana Limited from being sworn in as the new Ashanti Regional Chairman.

A week after winning the 30th June poll as Chairman, his swearing in and that of the other executives who went unopposed in the various positions they contested for was suspended.

The reason, the GJA offered was that a petition had been filed by one Georgina Ankumah that the election was fraught with an irregularity, adding that some ineligible persons were allowed to vote in the Ashanti Regional Executive poll.

Rerun:

On Thursday, the GJA Elections Dispute Adjudicating Committee (EDAC) in a written statement called for a re-run of the Ashanti Regional Executive Election within 14 working days.

This decision, the statement noted was the outcome of their fact finding mission having heard from the petitioner and other interested parties.

But surprisingly, the Committee Chairman, one Zakaria Tanko, whose mission was only to recommend to the National GJA Executive the way forward rather chose to give remedial orders contrary to the powers the Committee has.

However, what is more surprising is that one Portia Oforiwaa Ofori whose eligibility is in contention and as claimed by Zakaria Tanko, the Election Dispute Adjudicating Committee (EDAC) Chairperson in the third paragraph of the letter written to set aside the June 30 Poll, fails to show who the lady voted for.

This weird conclusion by the EDAC is seen by many observers and media practitioners in Ashanti as an attempt to blackmail Mr Adu Domfeh, the winner of the Ashanti Regional Executive GJA election from ascending to the office he has been elected to occupy.

Issues:

Meanwhile, Mr Yaw Boadu Ayeboafoh, a former National Media Commission Chairman who was not eligible to vote in the Ashanti GJA Executive Election voted in same.

The NMC Chairperson just like many others were allowed to vote as well as one Isaac Bediako whose original registration was in the Ahafo Region because both the Election Committee Chairperson in Accra and their representative in Kumasi, Mr Thomas Nsowah Adjei as well as the EC Presiding Officer, Mr E.T Donkor approved of same with the agents of the contestants also agreeing to same.

Background:

On the 30th of June, 31 persons who were deemed eligible by the GJA elections committee and approved by the Presiding Officer of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Mr E.T Donkor cast their votes to elect Kofi Adu Domfeh who polled 16 votes as the new Ashanti Regional Chairman for Ghana Journalists Association(GJA).

Same result was subsequently signed to and approved by the accredited agents.

Incidentally, the Regional Executive Election was held alongside that of the National Executive Elections on same day.

However, almost a week after the peaceful and successful elections, the Ashanti Regional Executive swearing in event that should have been held simultaneously with that of the National Executive was put on hold.

The ensuing explanation from the National Body was that a petition had been filed against the Ashanti Regional event by the outgoing secretary Georgina Ankumah who filed to contest as Chairperson.

Criminal Activities:

Earlier on the election day at the forecourt of the EC offices, it was rumored that one worker at a Kumasi based radio station was seen doling out monies to prospective voters.

Speculated to be around 400 cedis, the known supporter of the female contestant was said to have given the money to persons who showed desire to vote for the female candidate.

Apart from this vote buying technique, Erastus Asare Donkor, staff of Multimedia  Ghana Limited and Jonathan Ofori, Asaase radio Correspondent in Kumasi recount how their dues were taken by the outgoing regional secretary without they getting receipts for same, an issue that delayed them being acknowledged as paid up members of the GJA.

Tensions:

Many media persons who have been kept from registering to become members are shocked by the GJA EDAC behaviour and recommendation.

Some plan to use all legal means to ensure that their choice is respected and the newly executives inaugurated into the various offices they contested and won to oversee.

Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Michael Ofosu-Afriyie, Kumasi.