Organising Secretary aspirant in the upcoming Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) elections, Maxwell Kudekor, has said that journalists in the various newsrooms must take ownership of the association.
Interacting with journalists in Tema, he said: “The people in our newsrooms must own the GJA; there is a need to bridge the gap between the reporters and the national [leadership].”
He stated that if elected, he would encourage every newsroom with 10 or more members to set up chapters, elect executives, and run their affairs with support from the regional and national levels.
He added that with such arrangements, it would be easier for the GJA to mobilise effectively.
“If you want to organise an AGM, for instance, you liaise with the chapter, and with that, no one can say we did not form a quorum,” he said.
The GJA Organising Secretary hopeful further noted that with a good strategy, the association could mobilise its own funds and organise programmes independently.
He, therefore, called on journalists to vote for people with experience and strategy to lead the association, stressing that he possesses those qualities and is the best candidate for the Organising Secretary position.
Mr. Kudekor also revealed his vision to institute a legal regime where the GJA could collaborate with the Ghana Bar Association to assemble human rights lawyers on standby to provide legal support to members when needed.
He acknowledged the need for the GJA to consider welfare issues, noting that although the association initiated some welfare schemes, it lacks the financial capacity to pay monthly premiums. He emphasised the need to find a sustainable way to fund such initiatives.
“If we are paying dues on time—if we are paying GHS50—it should not be difficult to deduct GHS20 for insurance for journalists so that if tomorrow you go to an assignment and have an accident, the insurance company will take care of your needs,” he stated.
Mr. Kudekor is the current Eastern Regional Chairman of the GJA and works with The Multimedia Group Limited.
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