Accra, May 31, GNA - Nominations for elections to fill executive positions in the Ghana Journalists' Association (GJA) open on Monday, June 1, 2009.

The positions are President; Vice-President; General Secretary; Organising Secretary; Treasurer and Public Affairs Officer. The nominations will close on Wednesday, June 24 and elections will be conducted on July 9.

A statement issued by the Elections Committee earlier said according to Article 47 of the GJA Constitution, only members of the Association in good standing other than affiliate, student and honorary, shall have the right to vote.

A list of members in good standing will be published in the Daily Graphic and Chronicle by June 8. Members may also contact their local Chapters or Regional Branches for details.

Furthermore, candidates vying for any of the Executive positions shall be full members of the Association for at least five years and must be in good standing at least 90 days before elections. Candidates should collect nomination forms from the Ghana International Press Centre and return them to the same place after completion.

The statement said nominations of a candidate for the National Executive position shall be made by two members in good standing, both of whom shall not come from the same media organisation. For the avoidance of doubt, reference may be made to the GJA Constitution - 2004 Revised Edition.

The nomination fees for the various executive positions are as follows; President GH¢100.00; Vice President GH¢80.00; General Secretary GH¢60.00; Organising Secretary GH¢50.00; Treasurer GH¢50.00 and Public Affairs Officer GH¢50.00. Nomination of candidates together with the requisite fees should be paid in cash or in Bankers Draft to the Ghana Journalists Association through: GJA Elections Committee, Ghana International Press Centre, P. O. Box GP 4636, Accra on or before Wednesday, June 24. As required by the Constitution of the GJA, a three-member Elections Dispute Adjudication Committee has been established. The membership comprises Mrs Jeanette Quarcoopome, Lawyer/Journalist (Chairperson), Mr Mohammed Addoquaye, Greater Accra Regional Director of Elections at the Electoral Commission (Member) and Alhaji Razak El-Alawa, a veteran journalist (Member).

The GJA Elections Committee also asked Regional Executives of the GJA to organise elections for new regional executives on the same day. They should choose their Elections Officer(s), fix their nomination fees and contact the Electoral Commission in their respective Regions to help them conduct the election.

The GJA Elections Committee is chaired by Ben Assorow with Mr Mawusi Afele of GNA and Mrs Betty Apau-Opong of GBC as members.