We need to reinvigorate GJA – Albert Dwumfour advocates

Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, Ghana Journalists Association’s (GJA) Presidential Aspirant has up scaled advocacy to reinvigorate the Association from the Local and Regional Chapters to National Levels.

As part of the measures, he said: “If elected I will marshal the experiences of seasoned journalists to work in collaboration with the young ones to march forward together, share experiences and mentor them.

“The Albert Kwabena Dwumfour GJA Reinvigoration Agenda stands on the pillars of welfare and wellbeing of journalists; practitioners particularly retirees’ access to basic health care due, which most often is hindered by financial constraints and work pressure; and implementation of an insurance package that would cover areas such as health, pension and funeral,” he said.

Mr Dwumfour, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) Tema Regional Office noted that the agenda would also ensure that the Ghanaian media landscape goes through a transformational mechanism to step out as progressive association, which would be professionally acknowledged across the globe.

He noted that a One Million Cedis GJA Welfare Fund would be established as part of the reinvigoration agenda pillar’s welfare scheme to benefit retirees whose condition after active service most often are nothing to write home about.

Mr Dwumfour who is the current GJA National Organiser, said the association must leverage on its relationship with corporate Ghana and other relevant stakeholders to raise funds as seed capital to take care of media practitioners both in active service and after service.

“I believe in the concept of building a world that promotes a sense of inclusiveness, a world where no one is left out especially young journalists. “We need the proactive crop of journalists in this transformational and reinvigoration agenda to hold the fort when the veterans exit,” he said.

He said over the years, there have been lots of impediments put in the way of media practitioners sometimes through clandestine policies and usage of some media personnel against the general good of the journalists.

“The GJA election next month offers media practitioners the opportunity to vote for someone with the ability to redeem and reinvigorate the association, it is imperative to look out for that one person that is committed to remove the bottlenecks which impedes the growth of the association and promote the welfare of members,” Mr Dwumfour stated.

“GJA must offer all members irrespective of the media house they work for a level playing field with equal opportunities and more importantly contribute towards the needed facelift which is paramount to make GJA attractive and assertive national player for the general good of Ghana,” he said.

Mr Dwumfour said based on the background of an industrious personality with a proven record of accomplishment, “I am ready to impact to Ghanaian media practitioners the sense of partnership role with all stakeholders towards a new media paradigm for national progress.”

He said among the major pillars of the GJA reinvigoration agenda, would be the resolve to pursue the welfare of media practitioners, which would also focus on safety of media practitioners on the field of work, and ensure that media practitioners work from a healthy environment.

He also revealed that under the GJA Reinvigoration Agenda the security of journalists would become paramount to the association.

“Our security cannot be negotiated on any grounds. We should be able to go about our daily activities without fear or panic. And we will make sure we use all the means and the connections to bring all the stakeholders on a round table to discuss so we don’t compromise our security,” he said.

Mr Dwumfour, a media consultant, and a businessman as well as Head of Corporate Affairs at the Tobinco Group of Companies noted that periodic capacity building workshops would be organised for practitioners to sharpen their skills and to build their professional competences.

He also pledged to introduce programmes that would seek to bond members of the GJA, as well as rebrand the association, ensure accountable and all-inclusiveness administration.

He also expressed concern about the conditions of service of journalists in the country, stressing that, “as soon as I assume office, I will engage media practitioners, media owners, and other stakeholders as well as trade unions to develop a roadmap towards enhancing the condition of service for journalists and media practitioners.”