BY Nadia Ntiamoah
The Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) has elected new national executives to steer the affairs of the association for the next four years, following hotly contested elections held on Tuesday.
The polls, which brought together members of the media fraternity across the country, produced a fresh leadership with overwhelming mandates in most positions.
In the presidential race, David Tamekloe, editor of Whatsup News, secured a decisive victory with 86 votes against the Editor of The Custodian Newspaper, Awudu Mahama’s 34 votes.
His win marks a new chapter for PRINPAG, which has been undergoing restructuring to strengthen its role in defending press freedom and supporting private media houses in Ghana.
For the position of Vice President, Michael Agyei Antwi emerged victorious with 88 votes, defeating Agana Riger, who polled 32 votes.
This result consolidates the confidence members have placed in a leadership team expected to push for reforms and welfare improvements for private media practitioners.
The contest for Organising Secretary was among the keenly fought positions. Prince Kawuunda won with 58 votes, leaving William Sarpong and Emmanuel Ajafor of Modern Ghana website trailing with 32 and 31 votes respectively.
In the financial portfolio, the members gave a clear mandate to Naana Aklerh Kubi I, who polled an impressive 104 votes, dwarfing her competitors Kofi Ahorvi (10 votes) and Adnan Adams (6 votes).
Her election signals a strong desire for transparent and accountable financial management within the association.
For the position of Public Affairs and External Relations Officer, members overwhelmingly endorsed the Editor of Daily Democrat Newspaper, Godfred Opare Djan, giving him 109 “Yes” votes against 10 “No” votes.
This near-unanimous support underscores confidence in his ability to represent PRINPAG effectively in national and international media engagements.
Background and Significance
The elections come at a crucial time for PRINPAG, which has, in recent years, faced challenges of dwindling resources, internal disputes, and calls for stronger advocacy for media owners and journalists.
The new leadership, led by David Tamekloe, is expected to reposition the association to better engage government, policymakers, and industry players on issues affecting press freedom, advertising revenue, and the survival of private newspapers in the digital age.
Founded in 1991, PRINPAG has played a critical role in the democratic journey, especially in advocating for the repeal of the criminal libel law and promoting a free and independent press.
