The Electoral Commission (EC) has responded to concerns raised by media organizations regarding a directive limiting access to constituency and regional collation centers during the 2024 general elections.
The directive, which restricts the number of media outlets permitted at collation centers, has sparked significant feedback from media stakeholders, who worry about its potential impact on transparency and inclusivity.
In a memo issued earlier, the EC instructed district and regional staff to allocate specific quotas for media accreditation. Under this directive, only eight media outlets will be allowed at constituency collation centers, while regional centers will accommodate 12.
In response to the concerns, the EC announced on Wednesday, November 27, that it is engaging with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) to address the issue.
“As a listening Commission, we are engaging with the leadership of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) on the issue and trust that we will arrive at an arrangement that is both workable and acceptable,” the EC said in a statement.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring transparency in the collation process. It highlighted its decision to allow media access to all constituency, regional, and national collation centers, a move aimed at fostering accountability.
However, the EC stressed that limiting the number of personnel at these centers is essential to maintaining order and ensuring peaceful operations during the collation of results.
“The Commission is keen on ensuring the highest level of transparency in its operations, hence the opening up of all its Constituency, Regional, and National Collation Centers to the Media.
“In doing so, the Commission is mindful of the need to ensure an orderly and peaceful process at all the Collation Centers, hence the quotas on the number of persons who can access the Collation Centers at any given time,” the statement added.
The EC expressed optimism that its ongoing discussions with the GJA and GIBA would lead to a mutually agreeable solution. The Commission assured media partners of its commitment to enabling them to perform their roles effectively without compromising the integrity or efficiency of the collation process.
The move underscores the EC’s effort to balance media inclusion with logistical and security considerations ahead of the crucial 2024 elections.
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