The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has reached an out-of-court settlement with a member of the Association, Caroline Boateng, in the matter of “CAROLINE
BOATENG VRS THE GJA PRESIDENT & ORS” to pave the way for the GJA national and regional elections to be held by October 3, 2021.
The Plaintiff and Defendants (represented by the GJA President, Affail Monney) signed the Agreement which was procured under the auspices of His Royal Majesty, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru Il, the Ga Mantse.
“The Parties agree that the GJA elections shall be held one month after the signing and coming into force of the Agreement today, Friday, September 3 2021.
This means the stayed national and regional elections shall now be held on or before October 3, 2021, with the Parties further agreeing that handing over and swearing-in of new executives shall be held within two weeks after
declaration of election results,” a statement signed by the GJA General Secretary, Kofi Yeboah said.
It indicated that the Parties submit that within one week from the date of the Agreement, the “GJA 2021 Elections Supervision Committee” shall be established made up of a representative each of the aspirants for national office positions and each of the regions, to work with the Elections Committee of the GJA to conduct the elections.
“Consequently, aspirants for the national office positions and the regional branches are expected to submit names of their nominees to: The Albert
Kwabena Dwumfour GJA Elections Committee, Ghana International Press Centre, Accra before the close of work on Monday, September 6, 2021.
The Committee shall ensure that a voters’ register of members in good standing (GJA members who have paid their dues up to date), including retirees and past executives shall be generated or compiled from the records of the GJA Secretariat, and such members shall cast their vote,” it said.
Within its mandates, the Committee shall submit for publication by the Elections Committee a calendar of activities for the elections and ensure the non-interference in the election process by the GJA Executive or National Council or anybody whatsoever.
The parties further agree that the Elections Dispute Adjudication Mary Mensah Committee (EDAC) of the GJA shall be empowered to be responsible for all election-related disputes and that in the event of disputes unresolved by the EDAC, same shall be referred to mediation under the ADR Act, 2010 (Act 798) with a mediator appointed by the President of the Accra Bar within 48 hours of delivery of the dispute to the Accra Bar President.
The Agreement indicates that such disputes or appeals shall be submitted within 48 hours to Counsel for the Parties for onward delivery to the President of the Accra Bar to be resolved within 24 hours of the appointment of the mediator.
The Parties agree that “they shall be bound by an absolute confidentiality clause to this Agreement, and these terms shall be subject to the usual
default clause.”
“That these terms of settlement embody the entire understanding of the Parties in respect of the matters contained in, or referred to, it and there are no promises, terms, conditions or obligations, oral or written, express or implied, other than those contained in these terms of the settlement,” the Agreement provides.
It states that the Parties, having agreed “to compromise their differences and to settle this case amicably, do hereby execute this Agreement and that any duty or obligation of any party herein that may become outstanding for whatever reason(s) shall not remain undischarged”.
The GJA held its last elections on Friday, September 29, 2017, and the new executives were inaugurated into office on Friday, November 17, 2017.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri