Eastern Media Root For Adom FM Reporter As GJA Sec
Stories from Isaac Akwetey-Okunor
Most journalists in the Eastern Region have declared their total support for the Eastern Regional Correspondent of Adom FM, an Accra based private radio station, Mr. Maxwell Kudekor, to become the next Regional Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association, in preference to Mr. Christian Osah, the Regional Manager of the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
According to them, despite Mr. Osah’s rich experience and years of practice, it would be another gamble if he is chosen to lead the association in the region, since he is old and would lack the energy to move the association up from its current fallen standard.
Therefore, it would be in the interest of the association if Mr. Kudekor is considered in the upcoming election, since the regional GJA needs fresh blood with fresh energy to fuel it.
They further explained in interviews with the Eastern File that the once proactive and vibrant Eastern press corps had suffered many setbacks in recent times, due to lack of good leadership in the local GJA, and that they believe the Adom FM Reporter would be the solution to the problem.
To them, most journalists have also lost the interest in the association, because it was not working in their interests, or protecting their rights when they are abused with impunity.
The young Kudekor, who has worked with Multi-Media Group for the past seven years, has distinguished himself among his peers, and has upheld the ethics of the profession in the discharge of his duties.
He was adjudged the 2011 Best Reporter in the Annual Adom FM awards, an award instituted by the company to recognise the contributions of its hard-working reporters in appreciation of his hard work and high professionalism.
Before joining Adom FM as the Eastern Regional Correspondent, Kudekor had been one of the founding members of a defunct Kumasi based newspaper, ICT Focus.
Maxwell Kudekor is noted among his peers as a person with a high respect for the rights of others, as well as the quest to motivate and encourage colleagues on the need to, and also stand for the rights of journalists in the Eastern Region.
He has held various positions in his young life, including acting secretary of the Private Media Practitioners Association in the Eastern Region, which position he used to champion the cause of his colleagues at all fora during his term of office.
Speaking to the paper, Kudedor said he was motivated to contest the position from a call by his colleagues who want a positive change in the day-to-day activities of the association.
Outlining his vision, Mr. Kudekor reiterated that when voted into office, in collaboration with the executive body of the association, he would embark on a massive membership drive, in order to put every practitioner under a single umbrella for the effective practice of the profession.
This, he argued, would enable more effective supervision of journalists, even though there was some level of misconduct in every human institution.
He said the quest for effective reorganisation of the association would be a mirage if there is no office for the former to operate from, hence he would use his influence to lobby for a befitting office during his term of office.
The GJA Regional Secretary aspirant said if voted into office, he would also address the issue of unfair treatment of journalists, and that discrimination would be a thing of the past, as he would ensure equal opportunities for all members.
“Nepotism, favoritism, tribalism among others that have been an enemy and ghost chasing out members from joining the Association, will be a thing of the past under my leadership,” he declared.
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