The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has launched its 75th anniversary celebrations with the unveiling of a logo.
The event took place at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra on April 17, 2024.
The anniversary is being celebrated under the theme, ‘75 years of Excellence in journalism: Honouring the past, embracing the present, shaping the future’.
In his welcome address, the President of the GJA, Mr Albert Dwumfuor underscored the need for the Association to celebrate its Diamond Jubilee.
“75 years in the life of anybody (individual or corporate) is no mean an achievement, especially when it is a fulfilled life. There is no doubt that the GJA has lived a fulfilled life, and we have every reason to celebrate this milestone in full measure. That informs the theme for the Anniversary celebration: ’75 years of Excellence in journalism: Honouring the past, embracing the present, shaping the future’. With this theme, we seek to examine our life as an Association, looking at the past, present, and future,” he said.
He announced that three public lectures and one symposium have been planned as part of the anniversary celebrations, including one on “Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is taking or has already taken, centre stage of global affairs, in journalism practice in the future.”
Mr Dwumfuor used the occasion to salute the pioneers of the profession who braced the odds to set up the Association, as well as their successors.
“Mr Chairman, taking counsel from the adage that “a nation that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for”, we are minded to remember and honour the pioneers of the GJA who made invaluable sacrifices to bring us thus far. Since the establishment of the GJA on August 15, 1949, it has gone through many phases and surmounted many challenges as well. Christened as Africa Press Association at its formation, the GJA has today become a major force to reckon with. We remember the pioneering works of T. B. Ottie, Bem Dorkenoo, Sam Morris, Martin Therson-Cofie, Henry Ofori, Carl Reindorf, Regina Addae and Eric Adjorlolo. They have all paid their dues and we need to honour them,” he recalled.
The GJA President added, “Mr Chairman, in contemporary times, the GJA has been spearheaded by illustrious sons and daughters like Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere, Gifty Affenyi Dadzie, Ajoa Yeboah-Afari, Nana Kwaku Dei I (known privately as Ransford Tetteh) and Roland Affail Monney, my immediate predecessor. They all contributed their quota to take the Association to a higher level, and they deserve our honour.”
The Keynote address for the anniversary launch was delivered by Dr Sam Jonah. He urged members of the Association, to perceive the acronym GJA as, Governance, Justice and Accountability.
The launch was attended by the Mmeber of Parliament for Suame, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, high-ranking members of the inky fraternity, retired editors, and student journalists from the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), Wisconsin International University College, Ghana (WIUC), Africa University College of Communication (AUCC) and University of Education, Winneba (UEW).