The Electoral Commission (EC) has reversed its earlier decision to limit the number of accredited media houses allowed at collation centres during the December 7 elections.
Initially, the EC had announced restrictions, permitting only eight media outlets at constituency collation centres and 12 at regional centres. This directive aimed to ensure effective management of the collation process.
During a recent engagement with the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), the EC clarified its intentions behind the initial policy.
Deputy Commissioner Dr. Bossman Asare explained, “The EC did that because we wanted to prevent chaos at the collation centres…We should not forget that you can be in a particular region and there will be about 400 media houses, and the collation centre may be smaller.
“So, if we want to give unimpeded access to all the media houses, we may end up having challenges…so we issued that statement just to ensure orderliness at the collation centres, and not to restrict the media from reporting on the elections.”
The EC’s earlier directive had sparked significant feedback from media stakeholders, prompting the Commission to revise its stance. The EC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the critical role of the media in promoting free and fair elections.
Dr. Asare also highlighted the Commission’s goal of either improving or maintaining the 79 percent voter turnout achieved during the 2020 elections.
He reassured Ghanaians of the EC’s preparedness and dedication to conducting a successful election, as demonstrated in previous years. Additionally, Dr. Asare encouraged citizens to fulfill their civic responsibilities by turning out to vote on Election Day.
“For every registered voter, the Commission has printed a Presidential and Parliamentary ballot for you…so if it means you have to travel to Tamale or any part of the country to vote, please do it…and that will be your civic responsibility as a Ghanaian,” he emphasized.
The EC remains committed to ensuring a smooth electoral process while maintaining its collaboration with the media to uphold transparency and accountability.
Source: InsiderGH.com
