موقع وجه أفريقيا موقع وجه أفريقيا هو موقع مهتم بمتابعة التطورات في القارة الأفريقية
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Muhamad Yehia
The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana faces potential legal action following its recent directive to limit media access to constituency and regional collation centres during the 2024 general elections.
Ghanaian journalist Richard Dela Sky has strongly criticized the directive, describing it as “reckless and irresponsible.”
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Mr. Sky issued a stern warning to the EC: “If they don’t withdraw this decision, I will sue
The EC’s directive, outlined in a memo to its district and regional staff, restricts the number of media outlets allowed at the collation centres. According to the guidelines, only eight media outlets will be granted access to each constituency collation centre, while 12 will be permitted at regional centres.
journalist, Richard Dela Sky
The EC justified the move as necessary to maintain order and ensure a peaceful collation process.
The restrictions have, however, sparked widespread concerns about transparency and inclusiveness among media organizations and stakeholders.
In response to the backlash, the EC issued a statement on November 27, assuring the public of its commitment to transparency while acknowledging the need for orderly collation processes. The Commission revealed that discussions are ongoing with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) to address the concerns raised.
“As a listening Commission, we are engaging with the leadership of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) on the issue and trust that we will arrive at an arrangement that is both workable and acceptable,” the statement read.
The EC reaffirmed its intention to provide full media access to constituency, regional, and national collation centres, while emphasizing the importance of regulating the number of individuals present:“The Commission is keen on ensuring the highest level of transparency in its operations, hence the opening up of all its Constituency, Regional and National Collation Centres to the Media.
“In doing so, the Commission is mindful of the need to ensure an orderly and peaceful process at all the Collation Centres, hence the quotas on the number of persons who can access the Collation Centres at any given time.”
The EC remains optimistic that its engagement with media stakeholders will lead to a solution that balances transparency with order.
Meanwhile, Richard Dela Sky continues to pursue another significant legal case at the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ bill, which was passed in February this year. The court is expected to deliver its ruling next month.
