Pursuant to Article 44(a) of the Constitution of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) 2004, the current Elections Dispute Adjudication Committee (EDAC) was set up in the first quarter of 2021 to adjudicate election related matters of the Association’s 2021 elections.
The Committee’s work was however truncated by a suit filed in the Hign Court by a member concerning the tenure of office of the GJA Executive and the conduct of the said GJA elections.
The Court however referred the case back to the Association for internal settlement as per Article 11(f) of the GJA Constitution. The Parties to the suit however resorted to a Settlement Agreement outside the authority of the EDAC, and under the management of a newly formed Elections Supervisory Committee (ESC).
The Outcomes of the ESC resolution were subsequently disputed and referred to the EDAC in mid-November 2021 through petitions filed by the three GJA Presidential candidates respectively.
Thereafter, the Elections Dispute Adjudication Committee formally commenced its work in November 2021 relating to the forthcoming GJA elections in particular. EDAC has since begun its investigations towards establishing the veracity of the claims made and the credibility of the GJA Voters Register as is and/or related matters.
This is to safeguard the integrity of the final GJA Voters Register that will be fundamental to the conduct of elections for the Association.
The process has been painstakingly slow, but is an exercise intended to thoroughly investigate the claims and cOunterclaims made, gather requisite evidence and data from the GJA and interested parties to buttress the claims and assist in the verification and evaluation of the evidence available to the Committee.
EDAC has since held a series of formal hearings with affected and key parties. So far, the Committee has engaged all petitioners, the GJA Elections Committee, key administration personnel, former officers of the Association, relevant stakeholders and parties that have a bearing on the successful conduct of the forthcoming elections.
The investigation process has been fraught with delays in the submission of relevant documentary evidence requested by this Committee to ascertain claims, allegations or statements made by the Association and the petitioners, individually or collectively.
The EDAC therefore urges representatives of the Association to promptly comply with such requests to enable the Committee expedite the decision making process. We appreciate the urgency of the current situation and are equally concerned about the delay in conducting the GJA elections and will do our best to ensure the Committee’s decision is given on, or before the 4th of March 2020.
The Committee also calls for calm among the general membership of the Association and all interested parties, as we undertake this onerous Assignment. We crave the indulgence of all parties to allow the Elections Dispute Adjudication Committee to get to the bottom of the matter as desired.
Marian Kyei
(Chairperson)
Source: Nationaltymes.com
