General News of Saturday, 4 October 2003

Source: GNA

Adjoa Yebaoh-Afari is GJA President-Elect

Accra, Oct 3, GNA - Ms Adjoa Yeboah-Afari, a Veteran Journalist, on Friday won the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) presidential rerun when she polled 192 votes to beat Mr Ransford Tetteh and Mr Breda Atta-Quayson, both of the Graphic Communication Group Limited, who polled 128 and 111 votes, respectively. Three ballot papers were rejected.

Ms Yeboa-Afari won in the Upper West, Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, Eastern and Volta Regions, GBC Accra, GNA Accra and the Press Centre. Mr Tetteh won in Upper East, Tema and Graphic Accra, while Mr Attah-Quayson won in Northern Region, TV 3 and New Times Corporation.

Mr Francis Denteh of the Electoral Commission, Presiding Officer, who declared the results, said results from the Cape Coast Centre as at 1800 hours had not been received but added that the maximum number of votes from the Centre was 20 and that could not change the fortunes of Ms Yeboah-Afari. Ms Yeboah-Afari said she was happy for the confidence members of the Association had reposed in her by giving her the mantle of leadership. She, however, expressed misgivings about the number of members that were at the Press Centre to listen to the results. She said the turn out at the voting was below her expectation and invited those, who did not vote for her to join her in the effort to invigorate the Association.

Ms Yeboah-Afari said apathy had always been the problem with the Association and pledged to exploit ways to kill it adding that she intended to run an open administration. Mr Tetteh and Mr Atta-Quayson congratulated the GJA President-Elect and promised to rally behind her to lift up the image of the Association. Mrs Gifty Affeinyi-Dadzie, outgoing President of the GJA, announced that the handing over ceremony would be held on Friday, October 10. The whole environment was very solemn. There was no television coverage. The presidential election rerun was necessitated by the disqualification of Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, winner of the previous election, for not paying his dues up to date.