The Electoral Commission (EC) has decided to suspend its plan to limit the number of media houses accredited to cover collation centres during the December 7 elections.
Dr. Bossman Asare, Deputy Commissioner of the EC, made the announcement on Wednesday during the Graphic National Development Series in Accra. The decision follows consultations with the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), which raised concerns about the initial directive.
Dr. Asare reassured the public that further discussions would take place to develop a revised policy on media access to collation centres. He clarified that the original directive was never intended to restrict media coverage but to ensure the process was manageable and orderly. “We issued the directive to prevent chaos at the collation centres. In some regions, there are up to 400 media outlets, and the collation centre may not have the capacity to accommodate them all,” he explained.
Earlier, in a memo dated November 25, 2024, the EC had announced that only eight media organisations would be accredited to cover collation activities in constituencies.
Dr. Asare emphasized that the EC fully recognizes the importance of media involvement in ensuring free and fair elections. He also reiterated the Commission’s goal of achieving or exceeding the 79% voter turnout seen in the 2020 elections, stating that preparations for the upcoming election were well underway.
He urged all registered voters to participate actively on Election Day, even if it meant traveling to remote areas like Tamale to cast their ballots. “It’s your civic duty as a Ghanaian,” Dr. Asare stated.
Additionally, Dr. Asare called on political parties and their candidates to educate their agents about the electoral process to minimize disruption at polling stations. He also highlighted the EC’s ongoing collaboration with security agencies to ensure peaceful elections. “The 2024 elections will reflect the will of the people,” he assured, adding that the EC had no vested interest in the election outcome.
The Graphic National Development Series, held under the theme “Sustaining Civic & Democratic Governance Systems for Development, Mandate of All Citizens,” seeks to foster national consensus on critical issues and influence policy decisions.
Mr. Ato Afful, Managing Director of Graphic Communications Group, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to promoting civic engagement and supporting transparent governance. Ahead of the December elections, he urged the youth to responsibly exercise their right to vote and called on political leaders to prioritize national interests above party concerns.
SOURCE: Myjoyonline
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