GJA President Albert Dwumfour praises Ga Mantse over 2021 election dispute

The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has commended the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, for helping resolve an electoral dispute that stalled the Association’s leadership transition in 2021.

Mr Dwumfour said the traditional ruler’s intervention helped end a legal impasse that had halted the GJA’s electoral process for nearly a year.

He made the remarks on Friday, October 23, during a courtesy visit by a GJA delegation to the Ga Mantse Palace in Accra.

Mr Dwumfour recalled that the Association’s elections, originally scheduled for 2020, were postponed to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 general elections.

The process was subsequently halted by a court injunction, leaving the Association unable to proceed with the elections.

“In 2021, the association was faced with a major challenge.

“Our election was supposed to be taking place in 2020, but for COVID and for the election 2020, we moved it to 2021. We were hit with a court injunction, and it was stopped. Everything, in fact, the process was halted for almost a year,” he said.

Mr Dwumfour said the Ga Mantse intervened by inviting the parties involved and facilitating efforts to resolve the disagreement.

He credited the traditional ruler’s experience and mediation efforts with helping the Association overcome the impasse.

“So His Royal Majesty, you stepped in, you called us, you invited us to your house. I remember I later invited all the parties together with Justice Julia, former Justice of the High Court. You were able to use your wisdom and a fountain of experience to mediate, resolve the statement, and we were able to move ahead,” he stated.

Mr Dwumfour also expressed the GJA’s readiness to collaborate with the Ga Traditional Council on awards initiatives, including the Ga State’s Sacred Crown Awards.

He said the Association was prepared to work with the Ga Mantse and the Council to organise the event.

“I can tell you without mincing words that together with my national executives, we are ready to partner your leadership and the Ga Traditional Council to organise this special award,” he said.

The GJA President further announced that President John Dramani Mahama had confirmed his participation as keynote speaker at the 30th GJA Awards.

He said the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice were also expected to attend, while Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II would serve as patron of the awards.

The ceremony is scheduled for November 7, 2026, to recognise excellence in journalism and honour practitioners whose work has contributed to public-interest reporting and the development of Ghana’s media landscape.