The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has reassured journalists and media organisations nationwide that they will have unrestricted access to cover the upcoming December 7 general elections.
This statement comes in response to concerns raised by media outlets about the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to limit access at both the constituency and regional collation centres.
Several media houses also voiced difficulties in securing the necessary accreditations for their reporters.
Initially, the EC had set a cap of 3,308 accreditations for media personnel, which drew widespread criticism from journalists and media advocacy groups.
Many argued that this number was too low to ensure comprehensive media coverage, particularly at the key collation centres.
In response to the criticism, the EC revised its policy and increased the number of accreditations to 4,500.
Speaking on Citi FM on Monday, December 2, the GJA President emphasised his commitment to ensuring that journalists have full access to all collation centres across the country.
He credited successful meetings with the EC and other stakeholders for the positive outcome.
“We had meetings with the Commissioner on Wednesday and Thursday, and we have made it clear to them our position that we are going to ensure that the media is given unfettered access, something that was made public during our press conference.
“In fact, on Friday [November 29] afternoon, my colleague, the president of Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), also called and said that the Commissioner, Madam Jean Mensa, called him, and they are offering us 4,500 accreditations to the coalition centre and the regional coalition centres.
“In fact, this time around, that same card will give you access to the constituency coalition centre and the regional coalition centre. There’s not going to be two cards, the same accreditation that will give you access to the constituency collation centre will give us access to the regional collation centre.”
He also revealed that the President of the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) informed him that EC Chairperson Jean Mensa had called to confirm that 4,500 accreditations would be provided for access to both constituency and regional collation centres.
