The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) and the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), with funding from the European Union, have formed a media forum to champion electoral reforms that will improve integrity, transparency, and peaceful elections in Ghana. The MERF seeks to build the capacities of journalists and create platforms for media practitioners to discuss and advocate for electoral reforms in the following areas: election results management, parliamentary election petition adjudication, and affirmative action.
On Thursday, November 9, 2023, CDD-Ghana and CODEO convened an initial meeting at the Airport West Hotel in Accra to foster a common understanding among journalists on key issues of electoral reforms in Ghana and best practices from other African countries.
As part of cultivating the media as capable allies in advancing advocacy on the proposed reforms, two zonal (Northern and Southern) capacity-building workshops will be held for 70 selected media practitioners from across the country. The MERF will spearhead the selection and capacity-building workshops for journalists on the proposed electoral reforms and support advocacy campaigns ahead of the general elections in December 2024.
In his address to the forum members, Mr. Albert Arhin, the national coordinator of the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) said, “the media forum aims to provide a platform for open dialogue and constructive discussions on electoral reforms in Ghana. Through this collaboration, various platforms will be used to advocate for reforms and ensure transparent, credible, and peaceful elections in Ghana.”
Mr. Joseph Oti Frimpong, programs officer with CDD-Ghana, added that “the forum will equip journalists with the knowledge and capacity to push the efforts for electoral reforms on election results management, parliamentary election adjudication and the Affirmative Action Bill.
Wilberforce Asare a journalist with Asaase Radio and Nimatu Yakubu Atouyese of GhanaWeb who were selected as conveners for the MERF expressed their willingness to facilitate the media’s role in advocating for reforms. The 22 media practitioners who participated in the inception meeting were selected from online, print, radio and television stations.
Dr. Kojo Asante, Director of Programs and Advocacy at CDD-Ghana, entreated the journalists to collectively use their efforts to effectively engage and educate citizens on the electoral reforms ahead of the 2024 general elections.