Media Coalition Challenges EC’s Selective Accreditation for Election Reporting

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), in collaboration with the KGL Foundation, has established a Media Collation Centre to monitor today’s polls. The initiative aims to enhance election reporting and ensure credible monitoring of the electoral process.

Speaking at a press conference, President of the GJA, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, commended the Electoral Commission (EC) for the generally smooth conduct of the exercise. “Reports from our election volunteers indicate that the process has been largely smooth. We commend the EC for this positive outcome,” he stated.

However, Mr. Dwumfour expressed concern over the EC’s decision to grant accreditation to selected media houses to cover proceedings at the National Collation Centre. The Media Coalition Ghana—which comprises the GJA, Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), and New Media Association of Ghana (NMAG)—issued a press statement calling on the EC to rescind this decision.

“We had expressed concerns that the EC’s approach could undermine the integrity of the elections due to the absence of a transparent and fair methodology for selecting media houses,” Mr. Dwumfour noted. He emphasized that the EC’s decision could exacerbate misinformation and disinformation. “Unfortunately, the EC did not heed our call and has implemented its selective agenda,” he said.

In response, the coalition has made the following demands:

1. The EC must disclose the list of media houses granted accreditation to cover proceedings at the National Collation Centre in the interest of transparency.
2. The EC must reveal the methodology used to select these media houses.

In his remarks, Mr. Alex Dadzie, Executive Chairman of the KGL Foundation, reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to supporting credible journalism in Ghana. “The KGL Foundation has a vested interest in the Ghanaian media landscape and remains the largest spender in the commercial media space,” he said.

He highlighted the foundation’s longstanding partnership with the GJA. “As part of our social responsibility, we have collaborated with the GJA for over three years, sponsoring several of their awards ceremonies. Today’s event marks another milestone in ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections,” Mr. Dadzie concluded.

The collaboration between the GJA and KGL Foundation underscores the importance of credible media in fostering democracy and safeguarding electoral integrity.

By Majid Diallo || ghananewsonline.com.gh