EC must give media unfettered access to all levels of voting and collation of ballots – GJA

The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Dwumfuor, has demanded that the Electoral Commission (EC) allows journalists who will cover the December 7 elections access to all processes without hindrance. 

According to Mr Dwumfuor, any restriction of the media on voting day will deprive the exercise of transparency, accountability and access to information.

He added that the directive from the EC is at variance with what was agreed at a recent meeting between representatives of the GJA and the electoral body.

“The EC must give unfettered access to the media to all the levels of voting and collation of ballots. The parties agreed that GJA and GIBA should present a proposal to the EC on the way forward, which we are working on now,” Mr Dwumfuor said at a press briefing on November 28, 2024.

It would be recalled that the Electoral Commission in a memo dated November 25, 2024, said, among others, that eight media organisations would be accredited to cover collation activities in the constituencies.

However, the GJA President “believes restricting access to the media will not be in the best interest of transparency, accountability and access to information which is always a major partnership essential for these elections. It will also weaken the strong steps being taken to trample upon misinformation and disinformation, which phenomena are a major concern in this year’s elections.”

He stressed that, “Restricted media houses may rely on sources of information that may not be wholesome, and that could compromise the integrity of the elections. In essence, restricting access to the media will hurt, rather than help, the quest for credible media reportage of the elections and the eventual outcome of same.”

Mr Dwumfuor said the GJA expects the EC to “provide and improve mechanisms to facilitate the work of the media at all the levels of voting and collation of ballots.

He expressed gratitude to the leadership of the EC for the level of collaboration experienced so far.

“In its latest press statement, the EC indicated that it is a listening body; we believe it will also hear us. We hasten to add that we have had very cordial relations with the EC. Just this past Tuesday and Wednesday, the GJA, with the kind support of the EC, organised two zonal training workshops for 80 journalists across the country with the view to equipping them with the requisite skills to ensure credible election reporting. The skills they have acquired to work for the good of Mother Ghana should not be restricted,” Mr Dwumfuor advised.

 

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