Even as national attention turns to the grand swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected National Executives of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA)
Even as national attention turns to the grand swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected National Executives of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) scheduled for Friday, July 11, 2025, in Accra, a legal storm is brewing in the Ashanti Region.
The region’s branch of the GJA is currently embroiled in litigation that casts a shadow over the unity and integrity of the association’s post-election celebrations.
While the national ceremony will see the President, John Dramani Mahama, and Acting Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie in attendance at the Accra International Conference Centre, the Ashanti Regional GJA faces a court-imposed injunction barring the swearing-in of its newly elected officers.
National Ceremony to Usher in New Leadership
Friday’s ceremony in Accra marks a significant moment for the GJA as it ushers in newly elected National and Regional Executive Members following the association’s elections held on Monday, June 30, 2025.
The high-profile event, which will begin at 9:00 AM, is expected to bring together a distinguished list of guests including ministers of state, MPs, members of the diplomatic corps, and stakeholders from the media and legal fraternity.
President Mahama will serve as Special Guest of Honour, while Justice Baffoe-Bonnie will officially administer the oaths of office to the new executives, whose mandate spans the next three years.
Their charge: to lead Ghana’s journalism profession toward greater independence, ethical conduct, and national development
GJA’s General Secretary-elect Dominic Hlordzi, in a statement, emphasized that the ceremony will be a reaffirmation of the Association’s constitutional principles and a symbolic recommitment to journalistic excellence and press freedom.
Legal Wrangle in Ashanti Region
However, while the national body celebrates progress, the Ashanti Regional branch is mired in controversy.
A lawsuit filed by aggrieved members has led to a court injunction, effectively halting the swearing-in of regional officers elected during the same June 30 polls.
Sources within the GJA Ashanti Region say the plaintiffs are challenging the credibility of the election process, alleging irregularities and procedural breaches.
Details of the suit are yet to be publicly disclosed, but insiders say the court’s decision was based on claims of vote tampering, voter list manipulation, and the exclusion of certain members in good standing from participating in the elections.
The injunction has sparked concern among local journalists, with many fearing that the legal dispute could undermine the credibility of the Association’s internal democratic processes.
It also threatens to create parallel leadership structures in one of Ghana’s most influential media regions.
A Tale of Two Realities
The simultaneous unfolding of a prestigious national swearing-in in Accra and a court dispute in Kumasi presents a stark contrast in the fortunes of the GJA’s leadership renewal.
While the national event signals unity and forward momentum, the Ashanti Region’s conflict raises pressing questions about transparency and internal accountability.
Despite the legal setback in the Ashanti Region, the GJA leadership is hopeful that the impasse will be resolved through the courts or internal mediation.
Efforts are reportedly underway to encourage dialogue between the litigants and the regional election committee.
Meanwhile, the newly elected national executives are expected to use their first public platform on Friday to reaffirm their commitment to unity within the Association and to assure all members — from Accra to Tamale and Kumasi — that their voices and concerns will be addressed.
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