Election 2024 Coverage: EC increases access with 4,500 media accreditations
Ghana's Electoral Commission (EC) has increased the number of media accreditations for the collation of results at constituency and regional collation centres to 4,500. This represents a substantial increase from the initial minimum of 3,308 accreditations proposed by the EC.
According to the EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa, the Commission recognizes the critical role the media plays in promoting transparency and accountability during the electoral process. The increased accreditations are expected to facilitate more comprehensive coverage of the election results, enabling the media to effectively discharge their duties.
Speaking during a press conference on Friday, November 29, 2024, the Chairperson of the EC, stated that the accreditation cards will be issued to the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Ghana Independent Broadcaster Association (GIBA) by Sunday evening, and the allocation and distribution of the cards will be handled by these organizations. The EC has emphasized that it will not play a role in the allocation and distribution of the accreditation cards.
“The EC will not play any role in the allocation and distribution of the cards,'' she stated.
“The earlier memo that suggested three TV stations and five radio stations per constituency collation centre, and five TV stations and seven radio stations for each regional collation centre, was therefore only to ensure minimum coverage of the collation process.
“The Commission has however agreed with the GJA and GIBA that, in spite of the space limitation at many constituency and regional collation centres, the number of accreditations will be increased from the initial suggested minimum of 3,308 to 4,500. This amounts to 1,192 more accreditations to the constituency and regional collation centres. Once again, the 4,500 accreditation cards will be delivered to GJA and GIBA by Sunday evening,'' she added.
Source: Florence Kyei / Lead News Online
