Legacy vs. Loyalty: GJA Elections Turn Tense as Tribal, Political Undertones Mar Final Days of Campaign�

Legacy vs. Loyalty: GJA Elections Turn Tense as Tribal, Political Undertones Mar Final Days of Campaign�

As the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) gears up for its national elections on June 30, 2025, a storm is brewing one that threatens to overshadow the ideals of professionalism, unity, and journalistic integrity that the Association has long stood for.

In what was expected to be a civil contest of ideas and vision, the race for the GJA presidency has become increasingly polarised. With Albert Kwabena Dwumfour seeking re-election on the back of a transformative first term, his contender,  Charles Mawuse, has adopted a campaign style that has drawn sharp criticism from across the country,including from members of his own ethnic and regional roots.

Dwumfour: Running on Legacy and Unity

Dwumfour, who is contesting under the theme Legacy Regime: Securing Our Achievements, has been traversing the regions, presenting a record of real achievements: a revived press freedom agenda, the Journalist Support Fund, digitized administrative systems, and structural reforms in transparency and welfare.

His current team, composed of executives from across the country, reflects a deliberate effort to uphold regional balance and national inclusivity. While most of his team is seeking re-election, one key member Rebecca Ekpe, the current Public Affairs Officer has broken ranks to contest the Vice Presidential position on Mawuse's ticket.

Still, Dwumfour remains resolute and focused on what he believes journalists truly deserve: results, reforms, and respect.

Mawuse Campaign: Tribe, Party, and Allegiances

On the other hand, Mawuse's campaign has stirred significant controversy for its heavy reliance on ethnic identity and political affiliations. In various campaign stops and conversations, he has openly identified himself as a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and claimed to be enjoying tacit backing from the Presidency,a claim strongly refuted by sources close to the corridors of power.

What has shocked many is Mawuse's apparent alignment along Ewe ethnic lines, reportedly rallying candidates and voters from the Volta Region to support what some are now calling a campaign of Ewe hegemony. His key backer, Michael Mawugbe, a once-loyal confidant of Dwumfour and an administrator of the GJA secretariat, has since defected to Mawuse's camp citing ethnic solidarity and shared political ideology.

Mawugbe's switch has especially rankled many in the GJA community. Known to have been handpicked and empowered by Dwumfour during his first term, his sudden shift in allegiance allegedly motivated by tribal ties and partisan sympathy,has left a bitter taste in the mouths of many, particularly those who had long viewed the GJA as a professional, not political, association.

Volta Region Speaks Out

Ironically, some of the strongest opposition to this ethnopolitical turn has come from Mawuse's home region the Volta Region. Former Volta Regional GJA Chairman, Anthony Kafui Bells, has not held back.

"This campaign based on tribal identity and partisan loyalty is distasteful, repugnant, and despicable", Bells said in a scathing condemnation. "We have worked too hard to build a GJA that is national in character and professional in conduct. This is not who we are."

Across various platforms, GJA members have echoed similar sentiments denouncing the use of tribal allegiance as a weapon in a professional election and calling for a return to issues-based campaigning.

Dwumfour Fires Back with Facts

Amid mounting attacks from Mawugbe and others accusing his administration of embezzlement and corruption, Dwumfour did not flinch. In a high-stakes interview on Joy News flagship program, The Probe, he provided live, externally audited financial reports covering 2018 to 2023 even before his tenure began.

"We've run a clean administration. I personally commissioned the audit to clear all doubts, and the records speak for themselves. We won't allow lies to overshadow our legacy", he stated firmly.

Dwumfour's appearance was widely praised as calm, authoritative, and backed by verifiable data ,an image in stark contrast to the mudslinging and tribal overtones dominating Mawuse's camp.

A Call for Decency and Professionalism

With 864 members in good standing eligible to vote, the outcome of the June 30th elections will depend not only on campaign promises but on the Association's collective conscience.

The GJA is not just an institution it is the moral compass of Ghana's democracy, and how it chooses its leaders will send a strong message to the nation.

As the race heats up, the question remains: Will journalists vote for legacy and reform or be swayed by the politics of identity and allegiance?

One thing is certain,the future of the GJA is on the ballot.