MINNEAPOLIS – The 12th National Convention of the Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA) is scheduled to take place from 10-13 October 2024 in the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania under the Theme, “Addressing Liberian’s Fragility Through War Crimes Accountability and Socio-Economic Development.”
The convention is an annual event held by ALJA and will bring together several international Journalists of Liberian origin, ALJA members based in the US as well as journalists from Liberia. Also expected to attend are officials of the Liberian government, politicians, civil society actors and friends of the Liberian media. At this year’s convention, the Association’s progress, challenges and future will be deliberated.
ALJA maintains that war crimes accountability will contribute to lasting peace and stability and create an environment that is conducive for the social and economic development of Liberia. As evidenced by this year’s convention theme, the conferees will focus on promoting social justice and equality, fostering inclusive development, reducing corruption and ensuring the efficient and effective use of public resources. A resolution on these critical issues will be crafted and issued at the close of the convention.
According to a press release signed by the Officer-In-Charge of ALJA , Joey Kennedy, an important element of this year’s convention is the provision of an opportunity by the United States Government for ALJA members and invited journalists from Liberia to tour both the United States White House and the Capitol in Washington DC on Friday, October 11, 2024.
The release says, on Saturday, October 12, 2024, several prominent Liberian intellectuals and academics will present papers at the plenary session of the convention as follows:
- Tennen Dalieh Tehoungue, PhD candidate, Universal Jurisdiction (International Criminal Law) Transitional Justice and Peace Building, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland. Topic: Accountability, Rule of Law and Socio- economic Development in Liberia.
- Robtel Neajai Pailay, Assistant Professor of International Social and Public Policy, The London School of Economics, London, England, the UK. Topic: Empowering Liberian women: Addressing Gender Specific Impacts of War Crimes and Building the Path to Socio-economic Resilience.
- Bill Burke, Deputy Program Editor-AlJazeera English, Aljazeera Media Network, Doha, Qatar. Topic: The Role of the Media In Advancing Accountability, The Rule of Law and Socio-economic Development in Liberia.
- George Wisner II, Chief Executive Officer, Equilibrium Point Investment Inc & Adjunct Lecturer/Faculty, African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU), Monrovia, Liberia. Topic: Addressing Unemployment, Inequality and Access to Wealth as Keys to Achieving Socio- economic Development in Liberia
During the plenary session, a By-Election will be held to fill vacancies created by the resignation of the National President and Vice President of the Association as well as for the position of Secretary-General. Three candidates certified by the Elections Commission will be elected on white ballots during the convention to complete the one-year unexpired term of the former ALJA officials. Individuals certified by the organization’s elections commission to contest the vacant positions are:
- Joey Kennedy…………………….National President
- Madam Priscilla Mah-Belloh…………National Vice President; and
- Melissa Anna…………….……..National Secretary- General
Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa, Speaker of the Liberian House of Representatives, will deliver the keynote address at the benefit banquet which climaxes the 2024 National Convention. The banquet is intended to mobilize financial support for ALJA’s Media Fund is used to provide logistical and technical support to the Liberian media, an essential pillar of the nation’s democracy.
ALJA is a conglomeration of Liberian Journalists residing in the Americas. Founded in 1998, the Association is committed to advancing press freedom through media capacity building and the fostering of good governance in Liberia through media advocacy.
