GJA Front At War As Ashanti Chairman Calls For Impeachment Of President

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalist Association is calling for the impeachment of his national president, Affail Monney for his comment on the accident involving members of the presidential press corps.

Mr. Listowell Buckarson who was reacting to the comments of his president on Ultimate Fm’s Morning Show with Prince Minkah , described Mr. Monney’s comments as very unfortunate which should not come from the president of an Association that is currently mourning the death of its member.

Buckerson who was visibly fuming over the comments of his president didn’t not mince words but called for his president to be impeached.

”Prince, did you see or heard the GJA issued statement about the accident”? He queried.

The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has been severely criticized by colleague editors for endorsing the Chief of Staff’s claims that there was no wrongdoing in the presidential press corps accident.

The accident claimed the life of Ghanaian Times reporter, Samuel Nuamah, and injured several others.

Some journalists and groups like the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) have called for a probe into the circumstances that led to the rental of the vehicle that was involved in the tragedy.

Journalists on board the vehicle that was returning from Ho in the Volta Region where the president had attended a programme organised by the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) church complained about the recklessness of the driver.

Ghana Television’s Napoleon Atokitoe said the vehicle had two close shaves before the accident.

But GJA President Affail Monney says after a meeting between the Association and the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, it has been concluded that there was no wrongdoing.

He told reporters it came to light after the meeting that the vehicle hired for the journalists was in good condition.

According to him, this will not be the first time the presidency through the transport officer has done business with the car rental company, so there is no doubt due process was followed.

“The Chief of Staff assured that it was purely an accident and the state of the vehicle could not be blamed neither the driver,” he said.

In a response to whether he was satisfied with the Chief of Staff’s assertions even though his reporter (Affail Monney works at GBC), Atokitoe had said something to the contrary, Mr Monney said, “I am inclined to believe that he [Chief of Staff] was candid with what he said”.

He added that after a separate investigation by the Association, it became apparent that the car rental company where the vehicle - described by the journalists as rickety - was rented was a responsible company.