The Electoral Commission (EC) has reversed its earlier decision to limit journalist access to constituency and regional collation centres during the December 7 general elections.
This development, announced in a press release dated December 2, 2024, followed consultations with key media stakeholders and public outcry.
According to the EC, journalists with photo accreditation for polling stations will now have unrestricted access to cover activities at constituency and regional collation centres. The press release, signed by the Director of Electoral Services, Benjamin Bano-Bio, emphasized that this revision reflects the EC’s commitment to transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
The reversal comes after widespread criticism from Civil Society Organizations, Media Groups, and the general public. Earlier, the EC’s plan to accredit only a limited number of journalists, citing space constraints, drew sharp criticism.
Notable organizations like the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) pushed for increased access, resulting in the number of accredited journalists rising from 3,308 to 4,500.
While this move has been welcomed, some media organizations, such as the United Press for Development Network (UPDN), continue to demand more comprehensive reforms. They argue that further steps are needed to ensure unrestricted media access across all voting and collation activities.
The EC has promised to announce arrangements for media access to the National Collation Centre soon.
