Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), has reassured journalists and media houses of unrestricted access to cover the upcoming December 7 general elections.
This reassurance comes in response to concerns raised by media outlets over the Electoral Commission’s (EC) initial decision to restrict access to constituency and regional collation centres, as well as challenges in securing necessary accreditations for reporters.
The EC had initially set a cap of 3,308 accreditations for media personnel, which was met with criticism from journalists and media advocacy groups who argued that the number was inadequate for comprehensive coverage. In response, the EC increased the number of accreditations to 4,500.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Citi Breakfast Show on December 2, Dwumfour emphasized his commitment to ensuring that journalists have full access to all collation centres, crediting successful discussions with the EC and other key stakeholders for this 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.”
