By Daniel Bampoe
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) is set to go to the polls on June 30, 2025, to elect a new set of national and regional executives, as the Electoral Committee successfully conducted a balloting exercise to determine candidates’ positions on the ballot paper.
The balloting, which took place at the Ghana International Press Centre in Accra on Friday, June 13, involved 12 out of the 13 approved national candidates vying for six key positions: President, Vice President, General Secretary, Organising Secretary, Treasurer, and Public Affairs Officer. Each candidate drew either the first or second position for their respective race.
One candidate, Rufai Zambaga Saminu, withdrew from the contest before the balloting exercise. Saminu, who was running for the Treasurer position, formally notified the Elections Committee of his decision through a written letter.
In the regions, the process is progressing steadily. Seventeen candidates contesting for various regional executive roles – Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer – in Ashanti, Volta, Central, Eastern, Upper East, and Upper West regions also picked their ballot positions.
However, in an interesting turn of events, 31 candidates across various regions are running unopposed and, per Article 48(d)(i) of the GJA Constitution, are considered duly elected.
That clause states:
“Where at the close of nomination, only one person stands nominated, that candidate shall be declared elected by the Elections Committee.”
A notable exception remains in the Volta Region, where nominations for the Vice Chairperson role remain open.
The Elections Committee has extended the deadline for nomination to 5:00 p.m. on Monday, June 17, 2025. Any candidate vetted and approved thereafter will be added to the ballot for the region.
Voting will be conducted across 16 polling centres nationwide. In the Greater Accra Region, six polling stations have been designated – five in Accra and one in Tema.
Ten additional regional centres will be set up in the Central, Eastern, Ashanti, Volta, Northern, Western, Bono, Bono East, Upper East, and Upper West regions. Details of these polling locations will be communicated in due course.
According to the Committee, ballots for the regional contests will be counted and declared on-site at each respective regional polling centre.
However, the results for the national executive elections will be electronically relayed to the central collation hub at the Ghana International Press Centre, where final results will be officially declared.
Candidates will be allowed to assign polling agents to monitor the voting process on their behalf.
The Electoral Commission of Ghana, with support from GJA regional election officers, will oversee the voting process to ensure credibility and transparency.
The Elections Committee has reiterated its commitment to fairness, transparency, and integrity, promising to release a comprehensive set of guidelines to govern the conduct of the polls in the coming days.
In a statement signed by the Committee Chairman, Peter Martey Agbeko, the body called on all candidates and their supporters to campaign with decorum and focus on constructive engagement, rather than personal attacks or divisive rhetoric.
As the date approaches, the atmosphere within Ghana’s media fraternity is expected to intensify with healthy competition and ideas-driven dialogue – a testament to the democratic values the Association upholds.
The June 30 elections will shape the next phase of leadership within the GJA, influencing not only the direction of the association but also potentially the future of media advocacy, professionalism, and press freedom in Ghana.
