Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA) Climax 2017 Convention

The 3rd annual convention of the Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA) has ended in Wilmington, Delaware, with members adopting a resolution aimed at strengthening democracy and the rule of law in Liberia, and empowering Liberian journalists.

The convention assembled score(s) of current and retired journalists from across America, Liberia, and other parts of the world under the theme: The Rule of Law: Recipe for a Stableand Peaceful Liberia.

ALJA, in its resolution,called on the Liberian Government to ensure that all Liberians and foreigners, irrespective of their status or stature within the territorial confines of Liberia, strictly adhere to the statutory and constitutional provisions of Liberian laws at all times. ALJA encouraged all Government Officials and other power brokers to set examples, by obeying the law, including basic traffic regulations while driving in all parts of the country.

ALJA in a press release issued on Friday, September 21, 2017 urged the Chairman and members of the Liberian National Elections Commission (NEC) to conduct the ensuring October 10^th presidential and legislative elections in a free, fair and transparent manner as a means of catalyzing peace and stability in the country and removing any iota of doubt surrounding its eventual results.

The Association further calls for continuous partnership and collaboration between the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) and ALJA aimed at building the capacity of Liberian journalists and empowering them, especially beginning media practitioners.

The resolution concludes with a commendation from the Convention to ALJA’s National Vice President, Joe Mason, and members of the Association’ Communications Committee for their hard work in establishing the Association’s website (www.aljaonline.org) and also encourages the Committee to further explore setting up additional media outlets, especially within the electronic broadcast sector, so as to enable ALJA reach out to as many people as possible in further disseminating the cardinal aims and objectives of the Association.

Meanwhile, a new corps of officers to steer the affairs of ALJA for the next two years was elected and subsequently inducted into office. Those elected were Messrs. Moses D. Sandy, National President; Joe Mason, National Vice President; and Charles Crawford, National Secretary General. The positions of National Assistant Secretary General and National Treasurer were not contested during the elections due to non-aspirants. The convention, however, resolved to fill the vacant positions during ALJA’s first post-convention teleconference.

National President Sandy and Vice PresidentMason were re-elected for a second term. They were initially elected on October 17, 2015 in New Castle, Delaware, during the ALJA 2015 annual National Convention held in the state. This year’s annual convention brought together nearly forty Liberian journalists from various states in the US and Liberia, West Africa.

Members of the Liberian delegation to the convention were the PUL President, Charles Coffey, eminent broadcast journalist, E. Blamo Robinson formerly of the Liberia Broadcasting System (L.B.S), and Mrs. Lisa Dahn Tehmeh of the Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL). Also, on the delegation was Mr. Jutonu Kollie, Director of News at Prime Communications Network. Liberia’s premier comedian and broadcast journalist, Quincy T. Juwle, who is currently visiting the US graced the occasion.

ALJA was founded in 1998 and the organization seeks to foster and consolidate companionship amongst its members and their American counterparts. Also, the Association is committed to the advancement of press freedom through media development and training in Liberia; and the principles of good governance in Liberia through media advocacy.

Signed: ____________________
Charles Crawford
National Secretary General
Approved: _____________________
Moses D. Sandy
National President