- Dwumfour, Fatimatu Abubakar, Ransford Tetteh, Esther Cobbah, Several Veteran Journos Grace GJA’s 75th Anniversary Celebration.
Several Veteran Journalists thronged the La-Palm beach hotel to celebrate the GJA’s 75th Anniversary Celebration held on Thursday (August 15, 2024).
The Veterans included former GJA President, Mr. Ransford Tetteh, former Treasurer of GJA Madam Yaa Peasah, Madam Tina Aforo Yeboah, and Madam Cornelia Amoah.
The rest are AC Ohene, former Editor of Graphic, Mr. Cobby Asmah, Mr. Gabriel Bosompem, Mr. Godwin Avenorgbo, Mr. Peter Agbeko Dr. Charity Binka among others.
They all expressed joy for this day and challenged the up and coming Journalists to be responsible and professional at all times.
The GJA President, Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour congratulated all the past GJA leaders whom he described as the trail blazers for their sacrifices in ensuring press freedom.
He said but for them, Journalists would not be enjoying the freedom to practice.
“Chairperson, it is pertinent to step beyond executive proximity to embrace some other individuals whose contributions to the development and growth of the GJA have been rather enormous. In that regard, we celebrate the likes of former president John Agyekum Kufuor, Sir Sam Jonah, Kwasi Afriyie-Badu, Peter Agbeko, Marian Kyei, the late Dr Doris Dartey, Kwako Baako Jnr, Kwesi Pratt Jnr and Charles Wereko Brobbey. These names are by no means exhaustive of the list of trailblazers we desire to honour today. In honour of all these pioneers and many other comrades who have departed to the other world, permit me,
Madam Chairperson, to ask all of us to stand and observe a minute silence.
Thank you very much. You may resume your seat.
Madam Chairperson, for those still with us, we say Ayekoo! May you continue to be of great service to our beloved Association. Now, the ball is in the court of the new generation of leaders and vanguards of the Association to also play our respective roles to move the GJA to the next level. We can achieve a lot going forward with the support of all and a united front. Thus, I wish to take this opportunity to call on all and sundry to rally around the GJA flag and lift it higher. This is the time to bury our differences and forge unity and camaraderie for the good of the GJA”, the GJA President emphasized.
On her part, the Minister for Information, Fatimatu Abubakar advised Journalists to leverage on AI for the good of the profession.
She said even though there are challenges associated with AI, she however said the benefits of AI for information dissemination are enormous.
The Minister later congratulated the GJA for the remarkable milestone and expressed government’s commitment to supporting the Association.
Speakers at the Commemorative Lecture included Madam Ethel Cofie who is founder and CEO of Edel Technology and Mr. Nii Ayiku Ayiku who is an IT Expert.
They all spoke on “AI and the Future of Journalism”.
Below is the statement of the GJA President.
SPEECH DELIVERED BY ALBERT KWABENA DWUMFOUR, PRESIDENT OF THE GHANA JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION, AT A LECTURE TO COMMEMORATE THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GJA, HELD AT LA PALM BEACH HOTEL, ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024
Madam Chairperson,
The Special Guest and Minister of Information, Hon Fatimatu Abubakar,
The Guest Speaker and President of the Federation of African Journalists, Omar Faruk Osman,
Ministers of State,
Members of Parliament,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished speakers for today’s lecture,
Past presidents and national executive members of the GJA,
National Executive and National Council members,
Representatives of media partners,
Senior and colleague members of the GJA,
Heads and students of communication training institutions,
Distinguished invited guests,
Ladies and gentlemen.
On behalf of the National Executive and National Council of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), I wish to welcome you all to this evening’s anniversary commemorative lecture. It is reassuring to see the array of very distinguished personalities gathered in this auditorium to participate in this evening’s programme. I wish to take this opportunity to express profound gratitude to all of you, especially our dignitaries on the high table.
Madam Chairperson, today is a very momentous day in the history of the GJA, as we mark the 75th birthday of our noble Association. On August 15, 1949, the GJA was born as the biggest umbrella body to champion media freedom, welfare of media practitioners and, more significantly, the development agenda of the country. Initially christened “Africa Press Association” (APA), the association has since transitioned through different identities, such as the “Ghana Press Club” and “Association of Journalists and Writers,” to its present name, the GJA.
It is significant to note that a number of the “nationalist leaders” were journalists who employed the power of the pen to propagate their ideas and vision of independence for the then-Gold Coast.
Seventy-five years in the life of anybody, whether person or corporate, is no mean achievement.
Over the course of time, we had been at the forefront of the battle for Ghana’s independence, and when it comes to the role institutions played in our independence struggle, the media, represented by the GJA, can claim to be the Founding Father without controversy; we had also survived tyrannical and oppressive governments, although some of our comrades fell to the wickedness of those regimes; yet again, we have persevered in the face of persecution from obnoxious laws that criminalise free speech and undermine media freedom. In spite of these threats and attacks, the GJA remains resolute and steadfast, as it continues to champion the virtues espoused by our trailblazers.
Madam Chairperson, the theme for the GJA 75th Anniversary is: “Excellence in Journalism: Honouring the Past, embracing the Present and Shaping the Future”. In honouring the past on this auspicious occasion, we celebrate our forbearers for their sacrifices to lay a solid foundation upon which we stand today. We honour the memory of Martin Therson-Cofie, Sam Arthur, Fraser Ofori-Atta, G. A Dentu, Kwame Gyewu-Kyem, T. B. Ottie, Cecil Forde and Henry Ofori who played leadership roles in the formative and most challenging years of the Association. In recent memory, we also celebrate the likes of Edwin Tengey, Edward Ameyibor, Kabral Blay-Amihere, Gifty Affenyi Dadzie, Ajoa Yeboah-Afari, Nana Kwaku Dei (aka Ransford Tetteh), Affail Monney, Bright Blewu and Godwin Avenorgbo for their leadership roles to bring us this far.
Madam Chairperson, it is pertinent to step beyond executive proximity to embrace some other individuals whose contributions to the development and growth of the GJA have been rather enormous. In that regard, we celebrate the likes of former president John Agyekum Kufuor, Sir Sam Jonah, Kwasi Afriyie-Badu, Peter Agbeko, Marian Kyei, the late Dr Doris Dartey, Kwako Baako Jnr, Kwesi Pratt Jnr and Charles Wereko Brobbey. These names are by no means exhaustive of the list of trailblazers we desire to honour today. In honour of all these pioneers and many other comrades who have departed to the other world, permit me,
Madam Chairperson, to ask all of us to stand and observe a minute silence.
(AFTER ONE MINUTE)
Thank you very much. You may resume your seat.
Madam Chairperson, for those still with us, we say Ayekoo! May you continue to be of great service to our beloved Association. Now, the ball is in the court of the new generation of leaders and vanguards of the Association to also play our respective roles to move the GJA to the next level. We can achieve a lot going forward with the support of all and a united front. Thus, I wish to take this opportunity to call on all and sundry to rally around the GJA flag and lift it higher. This is the time to bury our differences and forge unity and camaraderie for the good of the GJA. Our doors are open to all, and we are committed to any process to make the GJA greater and stronger.
Madam Chairperson, even as we gather here to celebrate how far we have come, it is also imperative to use the occasion to reflect on how far we can go. That is why we have scheduled today’s anniversary commemorative lecture on the topic: “AI and the future of journalism”.
Madam Chairperson, the recent 3rd African Media Convention, which we hosted here in Accra, inspired this evening’s lecture. The AI issue dominated discussions, with many participants agreeing or proposing that there should be an African concept of AI that will help us (Africans) deal with our own unique situation.
Clearly, in this period of digitization and digitalization, AI has huge prospects for African media, as it has the potential to boost efficiency and audience engagement. Of course, it all depends on how we use it or approach it. African media firms can create new opportunities for the production, dissemination, and consumption of information throughout the continent by embracing AI.
We believe the resource persons assembled for this lecture will do justice to the topic, and we will leave this auditorium better and much more fulfilled than we came.
Madam Chairperson, as we look into the future a commitment to truth, tenacity and bold resolve in ensuring professionalism is a must.
Creativity and judgment are vital in crafting a narrative that is compelling, informative, and educational. It is about shedding light, not about generating heat. As an association, we will continue to ensure that Media Practitioners abide by the ethics of the profession, we will continue to name and shame unprofessional practitioners and reward deserving journalists.
As echoed by Sir Sam Jonah at the launch of our anniversary in April this year, our role as the Fourth Estate is a cornerstone of our democracy, and our duty to hold power to account has never been more critical.
The influence we wield is powerful, with the ability to frame political discourse and influence public opinion, making it imperative that this power is exercised with the utmost responsibility and ethical rigor.
Madam Chairperson, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the 75th Anniversary Committee, under the leadership of Mr. Godwin Avenorgbor. Their yeoman job is a manifestation of what we are witnessing this evening.
Special thanks to all our sponsors who continue to support us in times like this.
More importantly, immense thanks to my hardworking National Executives for their unwavering support and commitment to the vision of this legacy regime.
Madam Chairperson, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, on that note, I wish to thank you for your kind attention.
Long live GJA!
Long live Ghana!!
Source:newsflashafrica.com
