The Pan African Writers Association (PAWA) has elected Professor Bill Ndi of Cameroon as its President for a three-year term.
He was elected on July 18, 2025 after securing 23 votes (62.16%), surpassing the constitutional threshold of 50% +1 to defeat Madam Imela Oyono Ayingono of Equatorial Guinea in a poll that was held virtually during the association’s 2025 General Assembly.
Except the President, all other old Executive Committee members were returned unopposed.
They included Mr. Ashraf Aboul Yazid (Egypt) as Vice President for Northern Africa, Prof. Egara Kabaji (Kenya) for Eastern Africa, Prof. Cherno Omar Barry (The Gambia) for Western Africa, Mr. Carlos Paradona (Mozambique) for Southern Africa, Mr. Eric Joel Bekale (Gabon) for Central Africa, Ms. Reyna Lineres Jones (Diaspora), and Nigeria’s Dr. Wale Okediran as Secretary General.
The elections were conducted by an election committee formed on July 12, 2025.
Members of the committee, which was formerly chaired by Professor Cherno Omar Barry of The Gambia, were: Mr. Goima Peter Mwamwingila of Tanzania (chairman), Ms. Lucille Mudenda (Zambia), Ms. Salma El Nour (Sudan), and Mr. Ernest Oppong (Ghana) as Technical Adviser.
Following an official call for nominations on July 13, PAWA sought candidates for its presidency, secretary generalship, and six vice presidencies representing key regions of Africa and the diaspora.
The General Assembly suspended the position of Deputy Secretary General pending improvement in the financial stability of the organisation.
The nomination process closed with all posts except the presidency uncontested.
In the virtual ballot, 42 votes were cast by delegates, out of which five were disqualified due to irregularities, resulting in 37 valid votes.
The electoral committee chairman, Mr. Mwamwingila, closed the poll with an appreciation to his colleagues and the General Assembly for entrusting them with “this honourable responsibility.”
In his acceptance speech on behalf of the new exco, the new PAWA President, Professor Ndi, vowed “to do everything possible in the discharge of our duties to meet PAWA’s aspirational goals and uplift the association to greater heights.”
He said: “On behalf of the new PAWA Council, I want to thank you all for the confidence reposed in us by your votes.
“As I table this acceptance on behalf of other Council members, we pledge and promise to do everything possible in the discharge of our duties to meet PAWA’s aspirational goals and uplift the association to greater heights.
“It will be a council working for all the PAWA member-states, stakeholders, and PAWA regional arms.
“We are strong and effective together in taking PAWA to the next level! Blessed be PAWA and long live PAWA.”
