EC’s easing of collation centre restrictions boost to credibility
Some days ago, the Electoral Commission (EC) decided to restrict media access to the centres collating the results of the December 7 elections.
The EC wanted only eight media houses accredited to cover collation activities at the constituency centre – three television (TV) stations with two personnel each and five radio stations with a representative each.
For regional collation centres, 12 media houses were going to be allowed, comprising five TV stations with two representatives each and seven radio stations with a representative each.
The EC explained that the decision was meant to create a conducive environment for a smooth collation process.
However, the move was kicked against.
For instance, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) argued that the EC decision could undermine transparency and accountability in the electoral process, which relies heavily on the media’s oversight role.
Thank God that the EC didn’t act like an ideologue as it has now reconsidered its decision to the extent that journalists using its photo accreditation cards can access the constituency and regional collation centres this Saturday for the December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections.
What is more impressive is that media personnel assigned photo accreditation to cover polling stations will be able to use the same accreditation to cover constituency and regional collation centres.
For us at the Ghanaian Times, this is good news because it lends support to our trust in the EC that it would certainly deliver free, fair, transparent and credible elections, considering its positive conduct in the electoral process so far.
The change of mind by the EC would first and foremost benefit it in terms of its credibility because its acclaimed desire to maintain the highest level of transparency and accountability in its operations would have been suspect with the restriction.
By what criteria was the EC going to pick which media outlets should have access to the collation centres and how was it going to effectively convince others to agree to stay away without complaining?
Would the EC have taken it cool or easy if at the end of it all it had been accused of selecting media outlets which pandered to their whims and caprices?
A study into elections in the country in its Fourth Republic since 1992 has proven that every year media coverage improves as media access widens.
Therefore, any media restriction in connection with the electoral process, particularly voting and collation of election results, would certainly not be allowed to pass without opposition or protest.
The fact is that the media has very important role to play in the peacefulness of elections.
According to the MFWA, a very good percentage of media content related to elections, which can go as high as 85 per cent, is deemed factual and impartial, contributing to the credibility of the electoral process.
Besides, a report by the International Republican Institute (IRI) in 2008 highlighted the media’s positive impact in reducing post-election violence in the country through balanced reporting and public sensitisation.
The Institute’s concerns, however, were about the partisan media outlets that made certain attempts to propagate inflammatory rhetoric, which posed challenges to media neutrality.
The Ghanaian Times appeals to the partisan media outlets, which are now countless in the country, to behave professionally this time around because the habit is still evident in their electioneering.
In that same 2008, the National Media Commission (NMC) reported a significant reduction in electoral malpractices due to increased media monitoring and coverage.
In a word, the EC decision to ease the restriction on media access to centres collating the December 7 election results can boost the credibility of the elections and ensure peace in the country
