Tension Erupts at GJA as President Dwumfour Dismisses Veteran Staff

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) is engulfed in controversy after President Albert Dwumfour and General Secretary Dominic Hlordzi abruptly terminated the employment of two of the Association’s longest-serving staff, Fiifi Nettey and Dora Larbi. Nettey has served the GJA for 25 years, while Larbi has 17 years of service.

Sources suggest the dismissals are part of a calculated move to consolidate power and evade accountability, as both staff members have been vocal critics of what they describe as corrupt practices under Dwumfour’s administration.

The termination letters, handed to the staff in December, outlined one month’s salary in lieu of notice, any outstanding pay, and an additional month’s salary. Observers note that the letters contained multiple grammatical errors, raising further questions about the professionalism of the process.

The decision has sparked outrage within the journalism community, with many journalists and insiders decrying the move as illegal and an attack on institutional memory. Critics argue that sacking key veteran staff undermines governance and transparency, particularly when the leadership has yet to account for sponsorships related to recent GJA events.

Sources describe the dismissals as part of a broader scheme to influence upcoming GJA elections, allegedly paving the way for Dwumfour to install a loyal successor. The move has drawn sharp criticism from veteran journalists and past GJA leaders, many of whom are shocked at the apparent erosion of democratic principles within the Association.

One journalist remarked, “How can leadership that has failed to even account for the GJA Awards sponsorship be sacking people who built this institution? They should step aside.”

The abrupt termination of Nettey and Larbi, whose tenure represents decades of institutional knowledge, has intensified calls for accountability and raised fears that the decision could provoke further unrest within the GJA.