The Chairperson of Ghana’s Electoral Commission, Mrs. Jean Mensa, has announced that over 6,000 journalists have been accredited to cover the early voting and the December 7 general elections.

Speaking at a press conference on November 29, Mrs. Mensa explained that the accreditation process was carried out in collaboration with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA). “To date, we have received a little over 6,000 applications and have provided accreditation for 6,000 journalists. Tomorrow, the GJA will collect the badges and distribute them,” she said.

Earlier, the Electoral Commission had announced restrictions on media access to collation centres, allowing only radio and TV stations to cover these activities. A memo from the office of the Deputy Chairman for Operations, Samuel Tettey, outlined that only eight media houses would be granted access per constituency collation centre and 12 at regional centres. This decision faced criticism from stakeholders, including the GJA and the Media Foundation for West Africa, prompting the Commission to work with the GJA to address concerns.

At the press conference, Mrs. Mensa reassured the media that journalists would have unrestricted access to all voting centres. “The Commission has not restricted media access to any of our centres. If the media presents one million journalists, we are prepared to accredit one million to ensure comprehensive coverage,” she stated. “The GJA will ensure that all accreditations are distributed before Monday, and the remaining badges will be made available tomorrow.”

Source:TheDotNews