Features
Is the Ghana Journalists Association in shambles?
Tension is building up within the rank and file of journalists in this country which, if not handled properly, can cause disaffection among members of this noble profession and create confusion in the operation of journalism in Ghana.
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), which is the umbrella body of journalists in this country is embroiled in confusion due to the reluctance ofthe current executives led by Mr. Roland Affail Monney, whose mandate expired more than a year ago to step down to pave the way for fresh election of a new executives to steer the affairs of the association. As a result of this intransigent posture, tension is building up gradually,which if not managed properly, will make the association to lose the respect accorded to it by Ghanaians and society in general.
PROTRACTED DISPUTE WITHIN THE GJA AND COURT ACTION
The association has for the past one year, been confronted with a protracted dispute over a lawful and competent leadership to steer its affairs and as a result, a deep-seated division among members has been created with corresponding fury and anxiety.
The mandate of the old executives expired during the latter part of 2020 and due to the Corona Virus pandemic which hit the entire world including Ghana, it affected the association’s programme to organise an election to elect new national and regional executives to take over from the old executives. In May 2021, the GJA announcement of the opening of nominations for various positions in the association, attracted a suit from one of its members called Ms Caroline Boateng. She had sought a High Court injunction challenging the processes of holding the elections, saying the mandate of Affail Monney’s administration expired in November 2020 and, therefore, their continued stay in office was illegitimate.
SETTING UP ELECTION COMMITTEE WAS ILLEGITIMATE
The plaintiff argued that, because the administration’s stay in office was illegitimate, the move by the highest organ, the GJA National Council, to set up the Election Committee to carry out the election for a new executive was illegitimate. According to Ms. Boateng, Affail Monney who was the first of the three defendants in the suit, ought to have set up an interim committee to oversee the affairs of the association after expiration of his tenure in 2020. The plaintiff further accused the defendants of neglecting their duties for supposed personal benefit of ensuring that they influenced the next election. But the GJA executives argued that they were doing exactly what the laws required by undertaking the processes to elect new executives and that the plaintiff’s suit was only interfering in their work.
The plaintiff had prayed the court for an action against the election process and also replacement of the council with an interim committee to oversee the election. Ms. Boateng wanted the court to bring together Mrs. Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, Madam Ajoa Yeboa Afari, Mr. Ransford Tetteh and Ambassador Kabral Blay Amihere to constitute the interim committee to oversee the next elections.
CONTESTANTS FOR THE PRESIDENT OF GJA
Three personalities, namely Mr. David Agbenu, Editor of the Ghanaian Times, Mr. Gayheart Edem Mensah, a media consultant and Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, of the Atinka Media Village, have filed their nominations to contest the GJA presidential slot. Other members have also filed their nominations for various positions within the association.
OUT OF COURT SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTE
Under the auspices of the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru 11, the case was settled out of court with the agreement that both parties would ensure that the elections were held on or before October 3, 2021. It is instructive to know that more than a year on, the elections had not been held, thus creating a lot of anxiety and tension among members and the contestants in general. The contestants are complaining that the voter’s register is overblown with non- registered members of the association and unless a systematic audit is carried out to clean the register, the election cannot be held. This unfortunate situation has allowed the Affail Monney-led executive to continue to hold itself in office, thus creating problems for members.
RECENT SEMINAR TO DISCUSS THE WAY FORWARD
At a seminar attended by veteran journalists in Accra recently to discuss the way forward, it was agreed in a communique that, an Interim Management Committee (IMC), comprising senior members of the association be constituted to assist the constitutionally mandated committees of the GJA to develop a road map that would lead the association out of the current crisis and ensure the conduct of a credible election for new national and regional executives. It was further agreed that the IMC, in conjunction with the Elections Committee and the Elections Dispute Adjudicating committee of the GJA, should develop modalities for the cleaning up of the voter’s register and rid it of all suspicious names before the elections were held.
The forum theme, “The GJA yesterday, today and tomorrow-Repositioning for the next Phase” agreed that pending the establishment of the AGM, the immediate past president of the association Affail Monney and his executives must desist from holding themselves out as president and executives of the association, particularly when their tenure had elapsed since November 2020.
SELFISH AND MEDIOCRE LEADERS OF GJA
It is important to note that the GJA in the past had been a strong, vibrant and potent organisation that stood for interest and welfare of journalists. That was as a result of competent and well- groomed and talented senior journalists who served as leaders of the association. Now, we have a category of leaders who have placed personal welfare above the interest of members and that has been the woes of the association presently. They continue to align themselves with the government of the day, thus selling their conscience for peanuts and, therefore, can be influenced easily to follow the path of the government in power. For instance, it was a bit surprising to hear that the embattled president has nominated himself to serve on the National Media Commission without the express knowledge of the entire members of the GJA. Besides, unilateral decisions are taken without the knowledge of members. These came to light at the recent seminar for senior retired members of the association in Accra.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE GJA
This article will not be complete if I fail to give a brief background about the emergence of the association and those who sacrificed and laid down their lives towards its formation.We are told the GJA was established on August 1949, at a time when politics in the then British colony of the Gold Coast was at its peak and the minds of many media practitioners and ordinary citizens were filled with events of the nationalist struggle. A number of the nationalist leaders including Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Dr. J.B. Danquah, were journalists who used the power of the pen to propagate their ideas and vision of the independence for the then Gold Coast.
At the time of its formation, it was called Africa Press and was set up to provide indigenous media practitioners with an alternative to the colonial press. Those who were at the forefront of its formation were, Messrs Martin Therson-Coffie, Eric Adjorlolo, G.A. Hassen, Cecil Forde, Henry Ofori (Carl Mutt), Carl Reindolf and Regina Addae. The name of the association was later changed to Association of Ghanaian Journalists and Writers. For want of space, I would have gone deeper into the background of its formation.
HIGH PROFILE PAST EXECUTIVES OF THE GJA
Let me emphasise that with time, a number of high profile journalists some of whom had passed on to glory, had managed and steered the affairs of this noble and great institution with distinction. They included Messrs D.A. Dentu, Kwame Gyewu-Kyem, T.B. Ottie, Sam Arthur, Ambassador Kabral Blay- Amihere, Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, Ms. Ajoa Yeboah-Afari and Mr. Ransford Tetteh.
These noble personalities including those who have died, deserved a lot of commendation for their immense sacrifice and perseverance and, therefore, we should not allow their efforts to be in vain. All that we need to ask ourselves is, “For now, who watches the watchman?”
It appears that all is not lost and we need to wake up from our slumber and move the association on the right path and to its former glories. The journalism profession is a noble one and practitioners must be seen to be fighting for the down-trodden and to hold governments in check but not to chase ill-gotten wealth and also play into the hands of governments. The question we need to ask ourselves now is, “Who watches the watchman?”
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THE state of feeling rejected, could be a terrifying experience especially for those who have become used to fame. If not properly addressed, it could lead to depression and the consequences, could be disastrous.
When you are on top of your game in whatever profession you find yourself such that you become famous, a lot of people try to associate with you. The phone never ceases to ring and one is tempted to feel loved and very important.
When a disaster strikes and the fame or the money which was the source of the attraction fades away, the circle of friends and fans begin to shrink and the phone will start to stop ringing until the call stops voting completely.
You will be shocked at how people you considered friends, will no longer be calling you or pay casual visits as they used to. You will begin to notice that messages you leave after calling them and not getting a response are not replied to and that is when you begin to know who your true friends are.
One of the most popular movie stars was an actress called Sharon Stone. In an interview with one of the media houses that was published, she spoke about how people who should have come around to encourage her in her moment of depression, shunned her. The calls stopped coming.
This is what the Bible admonishes that the arm of flesh will fail you and therefore we should put our trust in God. It could be a very frightening experience and can easily lead to depression.
Human nature being what it is, people will want to get close if things are okay. Everybody wants to associate themselves with interesting things, famous people, rich people etc for mainly selfish reasons.
We need to develop the habit of putting our trust in God and relying less on human beings. The lesson we have to take along in life is that, no one marries his or her enemy so how come people who took vows that they will love each other become so hostile to each other that they want to go their separate ways in life? Such is the reality of life.
It is therefore prudent for people to recognise that, life is full of uncertainties and so there is the need to prepare your mind for uncertainties so that when they occur, they do not disorganise your mental sanity.
A lot of people have experienced situations where people who they could have sworn will never betray their trust have disappointed them when they were through challenging moments.
If there is one thing famous people should desire, it should be the ability to identify who are true friends are. Countless stories abound regarding incidence of celebrities who have lost their shine and their wives divorcing them soon after.
It is sometimes useful as a famous or rich person to sign a prenuptial agreement before marriage to safeguard or protect yourself from any future unpleasant surprises.
People can be very pretentious these days, it goes both ways. There is this real life story where a man married a divorced wealthy woman and convinced her to sell her house so they could build a new one together, with the excuse that people are gossiping that he is being housed by a woman.
The woman agreed and they put up a new building. After a few years the man asked for a divorce, only for the woman to realise that the land on which the building was situated, was bought in the man’s name.
This can drive a person insane, if you are not mentally tough and this happens to you. When people hear that you are homeless, a lot of your so-called friends will stop calling, so that you do not become a burden on them.
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
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‘But, er …. I don’t even know your name’.
‘Paul. Paul Allotey. I’m Sarah, by the way. Paul, why don’t you leave me here, since this is the last important thing I’m doing today’.
‘Okay. Now Sarah. I was just thinking. You will be here at the cafe for about an hour. By then it will be about twelve thirty. Then, you would be thinking of buying yourself some lunch, to eat here or to take home. So if you would please allow me, I will take you to one of the nicest eating places in town, and after you have sorted that one out, then I can drop you home. Just that one errand, then I won’t bother you again’.
‘You are not bothering me at all. You are being very kind to me. And I just realised you are a mind reader too. The last item on my agenda was lunch’.
‘I’m so glad I appeared at your doorstep, just in time’.
‘Okay. Now Paul, since you say the cafe is a comfortable place, let’s go in together, and you can do your work while I get my application done’.
‘Okay, Sarah. Thanks. Let’s go’.
We got back in the car at eleven forty-five.
‘So where are we going, Paul?’
‘To Royalty restaurant. It’s a twenty minute drive away’.
‘So, do you enjoy your job?’
‘Most certainly. I won’t change it, not even to be President. And am I right to say that you are preparing to enter the university?’
‘That’s my plan. I hope it works’.
‘It will, if you are determined, and disciplined. You look very much like a disciplined person’.
‘Thank you very much’.
We arrived at Royalty in twenty-five minutes, ‘You are joining me for lunch, Paul’.
‘Thanks for the honour, Sarah. But the bill is on me’.
‘Aren’t you taking on too much for one day?’
‘I never do anything that is bigger than me, Sarah’.
Over the next hour and a half, we discussed fashion, local and international politics, and sports, as we ate and relaxed. Finally, he drove me to the shop.
‘I will never forget you, Paul’.
‘I’m glad to have been helpful. But if you don’t mind, I’ll say it again, your husband is extremely lucky. You are really beautiful’.
‘Thanks again. But do you mind if I call you sometime in the future?’
‘Certainly not. Let me write it here. I will not ask for your number, for obvious reasons. But I will be looking forward to hearing from you. And hopefully, I will see you next month, when I call to drop your bill’.
‘Okay Paul. See you then’. What a lovely day, I said to myself as I opened the front door. I closed the shop and got home by seven. I went straight to the bedroom, stood in the mirror and took a good look at myself. ‘You are a very beautiful woman, Sarah. Never forget that’. I will not forget that, again.
Over the next several weeks, Martin and I had very little to do with each other. In the morning he ate his breakfast and after a shabby ‘I’m going’, he left. He came home around eight at the earliest, ate his dinner and, already soaked in beer, went off to sleep.
He spent the greater part of the weekends at the club house with his friends, playing tennis and partying. My mind was focused on furthering my education, so I didn’t complain to him, and didn’t bother to inform my parents about what was happening. I had decided that I would only take action if he lifted his hand against me again. I spent my free time reading all manner of interesting stuff on the internet, and chatting with my sister on WhatsApp.
One evening, he came home at about eight, rushed to the bedroom and rushed out. An envelope, obviously containing money, dropped out of his pocket, and I picked it up and followed him. I was going to call him and give it to him, but I noticed that there was a young woman in the car, so I went back in, counted it and put it in a drawer in the hall. He came back after some ten minutes.
‘Excuse me, I dropped an envelope containing money. You must have seen it’.
‘Yes, I saw it. Actually, I followed you, and was about to call you and hand it over to you when I realised that there was a woman in the car, so I came back in. I counted it. One thousand cedis.
‘Well let me have it. I have to be going’.
‘I will let you have it if you will tell me who the woman in the car is, and why you are going to give her that amount of money’.
‘Listen, if you waste my time, I will teach you a lesson you will never forget. Give me the money now!’
‘Here’s what we will do, Martin. I know you will give money to her anyway, so I will give it to you, if you will withdraw the threat you just issued. But I want you to know that I will be taking some steps from tomorrow. Things are getting out of hand’.
‘Okay, I’m sorry I threatened you. Can you please give me the money’. I handed it over to him, and he ran out’.
The following morning, I waited for him to finish having breakfast, and told him I wanted to have a word with him urgently.
‘You better be quick. You know I’m going to work’.
‘Well, I want to inform you that I will inform my parents, and your parents, about the situation in this house. As I said yesterday, things are getting out of hand. You spend most of your time drinking. You get drunk every evening, and through the weekend. And you are also spending your time and money on a prostitute’.
‘How dare you? One more stupid word from you …’
‘Am I lying, Martin? You have just started life, yet you are behaving like a rich, elderly man who has already seen his children through university, and can afford a life of fun. As I said, I’m going to inform our parents. Maybe your parents can straighten you out before it is too late’.
‘Look, we can talk this evening. It’s nothing like what you are saying’. He walked away, shocked.
That evening, I was expecting to have a meaningful discussion with him, but his mother called early in the evening to offer me some ‘advice’. Her son had called to say that certain developments at home were disturbing him so much that they were beginning to affect his work.
And, ‘as a loving mother to her daughter’, she was advising me to submit to my husband, and support him in prayer, and not ‘drive him from home’. Men would always be men, and she was telling me ‘from experience’ that no matter how much time Martin stayed away from home, he would always come home to me.
She had been a young wife before, so she understood the challenges I was facing. So I could be assured that if I followed her advice, all would be well. And, of course, she didn’t allow me to tell my side of the story.
Martin came home very late, and very drunk. And from the next morning, he carried on as before. With some hesitation, I called my dad and told him all that had gone on.
‘Well, my daughter. I’m not going to say “I told you so”. I was only trying to protect you. So here’s what we’ll do. Continue doing the best you can, and try not to give him any excuse to harm you, but if things continue to deteriorate, I will take you back.
A couple of days later, my cousin Dinah arrived in Accra from Brussels, having completed her medical course. With Martin’s agreement, I went to Koforidua and spent a couple of days. I spent most of the time chatting about her experiences in the US, but we also discussed my relationship with Martin, and she endorsed Dad’s decision to take action if Martin’s behaviour did not change after two weeks Elaine informed Mom and Dad. We endorsed Dad’s decision to take action if there was no change in two weeks.
Dinah returned with me to Takoradi. Her plan was to spend a couple of weeks, and return to Accra to be posted. I called Paul Allotey, and asked if he would meet her for lunch and, if possible, show her some interesting spots. Delighted, he suggested that we meet at Royalty the next day.
I told Martin about it, to remove any possibility of future disagreement over ‘going out with men’.
‘It’s fine with me’, he said, ‘if, of all the people who could show your sister round this town, you chose a borla man. Doesn’t that indicate the kind of person you are?’
‘ First of all, Martin’, I’ve spoken to him a few times, and he comes across as a decent guy, so I think it is rather unfortunate that you are writing him off when you don’t know him’.
By Ekow de Heer
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