The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has assured journalists and media houses of unrestricted access to cover the upcoming December 7 general elections.
This comes amid concerns over the Electoral Commission’s (EC) initial decision to limit media access at constituency and regional collation centres, as well as challenges in securing accreditations for reporters.
Originally, the EC capped media accreditations at 3,308, a figure widely criticized by journalists and advocacy groups as inadequate for ensuring comprehensive election coverage. In response to public outcry, the EC increased the number to 4,500.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Citi Breakfast Show on December 2, Dwumfour confirmed this development, crediting successful engagements with the EC and other stakeholders for the positive outcome.
“We had meetings with the Commissioner on Wednesday and Thursday, and we made it clear that the media must have unfettered access. This was reiterated during our press conference,” Dwumfour stated.
He added that the revised accreditation policy simplifies access for journalists.
“Now, the same card will grant access to both constituency and regional collation centres, eliminating the need for separate accreditations,” he explained.
The increase in accreditations and streamlined process aims to support a transparent and thorough media coverage of the elections, ensuring the public stays informed throughout the process.