GJA President must apologise; it is non-negotiable - Kweku Baako

Pressure is mounting on the embattled President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr. Affail Money to resign.

Veteran journalist Abdul Malik Kweku Baako says whether he will resign or not, Mr. Monney must “apologise ahead of time; it is nonnegotiable.”

The GJA President incurred the wrath of journalists across the country when told Joy News that after a meeting between the Association and the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, it had been concluded that there was no wrongdoing in the hiring of a vehicle which crashed and killed Ghanaian Times newspaper reporter, Samuel Nuamah.

The vehicle was carrying members of the Presidential Press Corps who were returning from Ho in the Volta Region where the president had attended a programme organised by the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP).

The journalists, some of whom were injured in the accident, complained about the recklessness of the driver.

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

But the GJA President told Joy News’ Manasseh Azure Awuni 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), Ato Kittoe 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”.

His comments have attracted opprobrium from media editors and journalists who say their president failed them.

Abdul Malik Kweku Baako agreed. He said the GJA President goofed big time.

More soon.