body-container-line-1
05.10.2009 General News

GJA takes steps to expose imposters- As Kwawukume presents award to Minister and Togbe Afede

05.10.2009 LISTEN
By Samuel Agbewode - Ghanaian Chronicle

The Volta Region branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has embarked on an exercise to strengthen the Association in the region, with its executives visiting the various media houses operating in the region, including the regional office of The Chronicle, the Information Services Department, and Volta Premier, a local radio station, all in Ho among other places.

The move became necessary in view of reported cases of impersonation in the region, which most of the times tarnish the image of the Association, and ridicules practicing journalists as the public most of the time cannot differentiate between qualified and practicing reporters, and the imposters.

The Volta Regional Secretary of the GJA, Mr. Kafui Bells Kanyi, who revealed this when the executives visited the Regional office of The Chronicle and briefed the Correspondent for the region on the mission of the Association, saying the negative practice was a major worry to them.

Mr. Kanyi pointed out that the Association knew the credible members, as well as practitioners working in the region, and would take the necessary measures to protect and defend the interests of its members, stressing that those who normally posed as journalists and misconduct themselves, would be exposed.

Mr. Kanyi said those who posed as journalists engaged in unprofessional conducts, as they also involved themselves in corrupt practices, which the public normally used against credible and professional journalists, a development, he stressed, that called for organisers of programmes to be circumspect with people they deal with as journalists.

The Volta Executives of the GJA also called on the Volta Regional Minister, Mr. Joseph Amenowode, in his office, where Mr. Kanyi appealed to him to assist the GJA with office space, and a means of transport, to facilitate the work of the Association and its members.

He said journalists in the region, most of the times, found it difficult to cover programmes and activities of the Regional Coordinating Council, due to transportation problem, noting that it would not be out of place if the VRCC provides the Association with a mini bus to help in the discharge of the work of journalists, as was being done in other places.

The Volta Regional Chairman of the GJA, Mr. Victor Kwawukume of the Daily Graphic, used the opportunity to present his national award as Best Rural Reporter to the Minister.

Mr. Amenowode commended Mr. Kwawukume for his hard work and dedication to duty, and urged other journalists to emulate him.

He said, so far, he was impressed with the work of journalists in the region, and pointed out that they could do more than they were doing, particularly in reporting on issues that would enhance the development of the region.

Mr. Kwawukume later presented the awards to the Agbogbmefia of the Asogli Traditional Area, Togbe Afede XIV, when the executives and journalists called on him at his palace in Ho, where the Agbogbomefia also lauded the efforts of Mr. Kwawukume for bringing honour to the region.

Mr. Kwawukume could not deny honouring his grandmother, who was sitting among the elders of the Asogli Traditional Area, and posed for a picture with the old lady, Madam Mansah Dagbey, who wished him well in his professional activities.

The rest of the executives of the GJA, and journalists who called on the Minister and Togbe Afede, were the Vice Chairman, Mr. Kafui Kumagah of Volta Star Radio, Mr. Winston Tamakloe of the Ghanaian Times, Mr. Robert Abilba Regional Correspondent of NET2 Television and Mrs. Hally Kanyi of the Information Services Department among others.

body-container-line