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Momodou
Denmark
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 Posted - 26 Mar 2008 : 17:15:42
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GPU Makes History
First Female President Elected
By Gibairou Janneh
The GPU has successfully held its fifth triennial congress, on Saturday, at the premises of the President Award Scheme, in Bakau. The congress, which drew participants from all media houses, across the country, was aimed at discussing pertinent issues affecting the media fraternity and to elect a new executive council to steer the activities of the union for the next three years.
Delivering the state of the union report, the Secretary General of the Union, Ndey Tapha Sosseh, told participants that their three year tenure of office had been marked by great difficulties but through commitment and determination they were able to triumph and cross the rigorous road. She said their tenure in office has witnessed a boost in the media with more newspapers joining the print media, more FM radio stations, including community based radio stations and the increase in Gambian online newspapers.
She also spoke at length about the various developments they had embarked on, ranging from capacity building and training of journalists which included training on editorial management, broadcasting management, headline presentation skills, election coverage, photojournalism, to the purchase of a printing press and the opening of an internet café at the GPU secretariat which, she said, is aimed at boosting the financial status of the union.
Ndey Tapha Sosseh also spoke about the various challenges that faced their administration and the various steps that they had undertaken to improve conditions. She said these challenges range from financial constraints of the union to the closure of media houses and the detention and harassment of journalists..
She concluded by calling on the participants to take ownership of the union and to make decisions that will help the union at all cost.
For his part, the outgoing President of the GPU, Mr. Madi Ceesay, said the congress is crucial for the life of the union. He said this is the time that decisions are made for the interest of the union.
He called on the participants to take good decisions and make use of them, noting that in the 30 years of its history, the GPU had not in any circumstance upheld the principles of democracy fully like this one. He said his administration took over GPU in a very trying moment under difficult circumstances. He said one of their major problems when they took over was the environment they found themselves as it was not an environment for any journalist to practice under. He said this was a time when Deyda Hydara was killed, many journalists were arrested and detained in connection to their work forcing some to flee the country and in some instance the closure of media houses without any court order.
“This is the environment we found ourselves three years ago and the only thing we felt we could do was to embark on capacity building for our members,” Madi told participants. He said where they have not done much perhaps was to reassure journalists their properties when they have their media houses closed down. He also talked about the various achievements registered during his tenure.
Ceesay caught many congress participants by surprise when he announced his intention to step down as GPU president, rather than offering himself as a candidate. He concluded that there will be no GPU without the participation of members and therefore called on journalists to patronise the union since it is theirs.
The congress witnessed the nomination and election of a new executive council.
Mr. Ebrima Sawaneh and Ndey Tapha Sosseh contested for the presidency.
When given the floor to talk to the congress prior to the election, Mr. Ebrima Sawaneh told participants that if elected into office he will embark on capacity building, engage in dialogue with government and fight to increase pay scale of journalists.
Ndey Tapha Sosseh told participants that after being in the media fraternity her experience, exposure and enlightenment has made her capable to rise to the challenges and take GPU to the next level.
She confidently assured participants of capacity building, intensive training programmes, self revitalization, constitutional review and to champion the course of press freedom if elected into office.
In order to ensure that there is no foul play in the election and that fair play integrity and transparency was the order of the day of the whole election process, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) presided over both the nomination and election.
At the end of the process the following people emerged as the newly elected members of the GPU executive:
President: Ndey Tapha Sosseh, 1st Vice President: Sarata Jabbi-Dibba, 2nd Vice President: Modou Nyang, Secretary General: Emil Touray, 1st Assistant Secretary General: Lamin Njie, 2nd Assistant Secretary General: Madi Njie, Treasurer: Pa Modou Faal and Co-opted members: Amie Sanneh and Buya Jammeh.
The participants spoke their mind, as in any democratic exercise. There was also room for necessary criticism and self criticism.
The congress was a success and the general atmosphere was so interactive that journalists described the day the “SUPER SATURDAY.”
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 34/2008, 25 March 2008
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