Despite expectations of strong competition from Lloyd Evans and Johnny Aryeetey prior to the elections, Monney swept to victory, garnering 310 of the 510 valid votes cast.

Over 500 members of the GJA cast their ballots at various polling centers across the country, lower than the over 650 votes that had been expected.

The election was supposed to be held in March, 2017, but was postponed because of some unresolved disputes.

Monney had expressed confidence of victory ahead of the polls, pointing to the recent Unionisation of the Association as a major success of his tenure.

“The chances can be determined and will be determined by the voters, and I believe that I have done justice to my leadership mettle after only one term in office. For the first in the history of GJA, we’ve been able to unionize this Association, and what it means is that, the profile of media workers in Ghana will change for the better,” he said on Thursday.

Lloyd Evans who came second, polled 147 votes but finished well behind Monney.

Evans, speaking on Eyewitness News on Thursday, said that a change in leadership was necessary for the progress of the Association.

“This election is about leadership, we need to get the right calibre of people to lead the association. Leadership that will not criticize its own people but will rather support them, empower them, encourage them to move forward,” he said

Evans had discounted the Unionisation of GJA which was touted by Monney, stating that it was flawed and had bred uncertainty about the status of the Association.

“To be honest, I don’t know whether [GJA] is now a Union or an Association. The decision to unionize took most of us by surprise, it was announced on September 12 when we were in the middle of elections. This can’t fly in the face of the law. [The uncertainty] is very disgraceful, to say the least. The Executive, they wanted it this way and rushed for it. Most of us are surprised,” he had said.

‘Johnny Aryeetey or John Mahama’

The third candidate in the Presidential race,  Johnny Aryeetey could not cast his ballot as his name could not be found on the register at the polling station.

He polled just 44 of the 505 votes cast. In the spot where his name should have been, the name “John Dramani Mahama” was printed.

Insisting his name had been on the list presented to the candidates prior to the polls, Aryeetey claims that the results had been “predetermined.”

He later said on Eyewitness News that he would consider legal advise on the matter and might challenge the results.

Final results (Presidential)

Roland Affail Monney – 310

Lloyd Evans – 147

Johnny Aryeetey – 44

Valid votes cast – 501

Total votes cast – 505

2. Vice Presidential

Linda Asante Agyei – 209

Tina Aforo Yeboah – 111

Francis Kotutse – 93

Mattew Mckwame – 92

Valid – 505

Total votes 505

General Secretary

Edmund Kofi Yeboah – 251

Dave Agbenu – 250

Valid 501

Rejected 3

Total 504

Public Affairs

Mary Mensah – 287

Nii Adjei Klu – 216

Valid votes 503

Rejected 2

Total valid votes 505

Organising Secretary

Albert Tuffour – 312

Vance Azu  – 186

Valid 498

Rejected 4

Total votes 502

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Affail Monney retains GJA Presidency with landslide win appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, despite being issued a unionised certificate by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) last Friday, the GJA cannot call itself a proper Union due to a lack of clarity on several issues.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Kv53CA4tFF3lMYRByUHvcleinsUbSnCZ”]Speaking on Eyewitness News on Thursday, Lloyd Evans stated that, the decision to unionize the GJA had come as a surprise to him.

He announced his intent to “seek clarification” on the status of the GJA, but only after Friday’s elections as he did not want to “rock the boat” so close to the polls.

“To be honest, I don’t know whether [GJA] is now a Union or an Association. The decision to unionize took most of us by surprise, it was announced on September 12 when we were in the middle of elections. This can’t fly in the face of the law. [The uncertainty] is very disgraceful, to say the least. The Executive, they wanted it this way and rushed for it. Most of us are surprised,” he said.

“We want to finish the election and see whether we can continue in that direction or we have to back out or modify it. For now, I don’t think we can do anything. The dust has to settle so we can pick up the pieces. I’ve been a Union Member before as a union report in [Daily] Graphic for nearly six years and I know the process, for now, we are nothing.”

Lloyd Evans suggested that, there might be some legal issues with the conversion of the GJA to a Union, adding that the situation might put the eligibility of all the candidates into question.

“How can you turn a voluntary organisation, an association or body with retired journalists, senior managers and other journalists into a Union. I’m wondering whether they averted their mind to the Labour Act 651, where it is stated clearly, how to form a Union. We are looking for further clarification. As we stand, am I a member of a Union or am I a member of an association?” he queried.

“We should all stand down [from the elections] immediately, and it’s surprising that the chairman of the election committee hasn’t averted his mind to it. I’m retired and can’t be in a Union and all the editors, like Affail Monney and David Agbanu would all have to step down. If it’s a Union we would all have to step down.”

Lloyd Evans, who is up against incumbent GJA president Roland Affail Monney in Friday’s polls, believes that a change in leadership is necessary for the progress of the Association.

“This election is about leadership, we need to get the right calibre of people to lead the association. Leadership that will not criticize its own people but will rather support them, empower them, encourage them to move forward,” he said.

“We are looking for a leader who is not self-centered, but people-centered, always taking into consideration the welfare of its members, and I’m that person, and I can assure you when I’m elected God willing, you will all be glad to be members of the association.”

–

By: Ann-Shirley Ziwu and Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Uncertainty over GJA unionised status ‘disgraceful’ – Lloyd Evans appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The election was supposed to be held in March, 2017, but was postponed because of some unresolved disputes.

At the time, Lloyd Evans, who is also contesting for the presidential position, was appealing his disqualification, and some journalists were challenging the authority of Affail Monney and his executives to organize the election.

[contextly_sidebar id=”7q5i1ybgvG2nJLbv55PQfT28pUR1cYI9″]Lloyd Evans said at the time that he would resist the decision to disqualify him and has since been reinstated.

“The chances can be determined and will be determined by the voters, and I believe that I have done justice to my leadership mettle after only one term in office. For the first in the history of GJA, we’ve been able to unionize this Association, and what it means is that, the profile of media workers in Ghana will change for the better,” Affail Monney said to Citi News’ Farida Shaibu.

When asked about his reactions to the criticisms on how he has led the Association, he said, “I will not fault anybody for attacking or insulting me. I thank all those who have criticized me, some justifiable, some unjustifiable. Nana Akufo-Addo was the most insulted candidate in the history of this country and now he is occupying the first office of the land.”

Affail Monney believes that he has “unionized the GJA for the first time in the history of this country, we’ve also set up a GJA fund; after 5 years, contributors are eligible to get access to the fund and invest in any project of their choice” and that he has done enough to warrant a re-election.

–

By: Jeffrey Owuraku Sarpong/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Affail Monney hopeful of another term as GJA president appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

A statement from the GJA Elections Committee, signed by chairman of the Election Committee, Ben Assorow, said Mr. Evans is “not in good standing per the rules of engagement.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”cItRAcuBUlBx9kRvLFp4CmNL0E7Zxwzd”]“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.”

However the campaign office of Mr. Evans, a former President of the Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists (IFEJ), has described the development as “bogus”.

“We are more than convinced that a cabal of benefactors and surrogates of the incumbent President are bent on perpetuating themselves and their personal aggrandizement at the expense of the collective good of all Journalists.

““Team Lloyd” has been made aware almost a month ago about this ploy to deny Lloyd the Presidency by any means possible and we are working hard to reverse this bogus decision by any means possible.

“We therefore, call on all journalists to disregard this obvious Machiavellian tactics at the 11th hour, because “no force or army is too strong to stop a peoples’ will for change.”

Below is the full unedited statement:

LLOYD EVANS CAMPAIGN OFFICE
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate Release

OUR CANDIDATE LLOYD EVANS WILL BE ON THE BALLOT PAPER

Accra; March 17, 2017- The attention of the Campaign Office of the aspiring President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Lloyd Evans, has been drawn to a statement issued and signed by Mr Ben Assorow, on behalf of the GJA announcing the disqualification of our Candidate today.

We wish to assure the general public and the teeming Lloyd’s supporters of journalists across the length and breadth of the country to remain calm in the face of this obvious tilted interpretation of the GJA Constitution.

We want to assure our supporters to continue the campaign to bring about the much needed change in the leadership of our once vibrant and envious association.

We are more than convinced that a cabal of benefactors and surrogates of the incumbent President are bent on perpetuating themselves and their personal aggrandizement at the expense of the collective good of all Journalists.

“Team Lloyd” has been made aware almost a month ago about this ploy to deny Lloyd the Presidency by any means possible and we are working hard to reverse this bogus decision by any means possible.

We therefore, call on all journalists to disregard this obvious Machiavellian tactics at the 11th hour, because “no force or army is too strong to stop a peoples’ will for change.”

Our candidate Lloyd Evans, will be on the ballot paper come March 31.
“Keep Lloyd Evans Vision Alive” CHANGE WILL COME.

Boahene Asamoah
Campaign Manager
“Team Lloyd”
–

By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post I’II fight GJA’s “bogus disqualification” – Lloyd Evans appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Elections Committee of the GJA, announced the disqualification of Mr. Evans, who is a former President of the Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists (IFEJ), on grounds that he did not “pass the test as a member of the GJA in good standing.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”Df7mlawYJA2OD8VXdPtM7XuLAa5YvROx”]“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” a statement from the Chairman of the GJA Elections Committee, Ben Assorow said.

The disqualification makes the race for the GJA presidency a two-horse race between incumbent President Affail Monney, and his colleague from the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Johnnie Aryeetey.

At the vice presidential level, an executive of the GJA, Mathew Mac Kwame was also disqualified.

Chairman of the GJA’s Elections Committee, Ben Assorow in an interview with Citi News’ Umaru Sanda said the disqualifications were done in line with laid down legal procedure.

“They do not meet the requirements of the [GJA] constitution. It is in the constitution, Article 47 b (3) that all persons aspiring for executive positions at the national and regional levels must be members in good standing at least ninety days before the election.

“We have no right to do something outside the constitution.We are working for the GJA and mother Ghana. There are laws governing the elections of the GJA and that is what we are following.”

Asked whether those disqualified had given an official response,  he said “We don’t have any response from them yet. There is an adjudication committee that the GJA has put in place. If they do not subscribe with what the committee has done, they can appeal that committee.”

I will fight my disqualification – Lloyd Evans

The Disqualified candidate, Lloyd Evans, has vowed to resist the decision by the incumbent executives of the association to deliberately kick him out of the race.  In a statement issued by his campaign office, they described the development as “bogus”.

“We are more than convinced that a cabal of benefactors and surrogates of the incumbent President are bent on perpetuating themselves and their personal aggrandizement at the expense of the collective good of all Journalists.

““Team Lloyd” has been made aware almost a month ago about this ploy to deny Lloyd the Presidency by any means possible and we are working hard to reverse this bogus decision by any means possible.

“We therefore, call on all journalists to disregard this obvious Machiavellian tactics at the 11th hour, because “no force or army is too strong to stop a peoples’ will for change.”

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post Confusion hits GJA elections over Lloyd Evans’ disqualification appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.