The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has engaged retired members, past presidents of the association, veteran journalists, and senior editors to find ways of including them in the activities and programmes of the GJA.
The engagement was part of the efforts of the GJA to make all veterans and senior editors part of its all-inclusive administration.
Speaking at the meeting, the GJA President, Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour said the meeting was to enable the Executives to tap into the knowledge of the aforementioned as their seniors to enable them chart a path that will inure to the benefit of all and make the profession better.
“Most of you have played and continue to play vital roles in the media and we will need to tap into your experience and support,” he said.
Mr Dwumfour stated that the GJA has decided to organise several training sessions and capacity-building programmes and therefore craved the indulgence of the seniors to support and contribute as resource people.
“For example training on ethics, various fields like health, environment, etc. We will form committees as and when we require them and we will call on you to serve on those committees, already some retirees have worked for us on the awards review committee, and some are now on the awards committee currently selecting the best journalists for our upcoming media awards, some retirees have also been part of our fact-finding visits and mediation efforts,” he said.
Mr Dwumfour made it known that the GJA is almost through with preparations to launch the GJA Journalists Support Fund, stating that a Retirees Support Fund will be incorporated under the Journalists Support Fund.
“The Fund will be launched on November 2, 2022, to mark the international day to end impunity for crimes committed against journalists. The Journalists Support Fund seeks to address issues of assaults on journalists as the current administration is poised to end attacks on journalists which is a major affront to press freedom.
He continued, “It is instructive to state that the GJA Retirees Support Fund is an initiative that is being championed by the Dwumfour-led administration to support our seniors and retirees, some of whom are faced with financial challenges.
“We believe that the GJA Retirees Support Fund when launched and becomes operational, would help assuage the suffering of some of our Retirees and put smiles on their faces,” he stated.
He also said the Retirees Forum will be an annual event where every year the GJA will engage senior journalists as its Council of Elders or Advisory team to advise the Executives on pertinent issues of national interest.
“It is important to state that as watchdogs of the society or the Fourth Estate of the realm, we have to contribute our quota to the development of this country. We will therefore need your counsel in that regard,” he added.