The Elections Security Task Force in the Upper West Region has called on media in the region to give accurate reportage during the upcoming general elections.
The regional elections security task force comprised all the security agencies in the region.
Speaking at a media briefing forum organized on the beheard of the Upper West Regional Police Command, the Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Ali Adamu Osman urged journalists in the region to give accurate report in both the special and general elections on December 2, and December 7, respectively.
The director of elections noted that the may not notice what was going on in Ghana if the media were not allowed to participate in the elections process.
Director Ali underscored the need for the media to be present at the polling station hence the resolve of the electoral commission to give accreditation to all journalists free of charge.
He confirmed that the electoral commission has all it needed to organize the elections.
Whiles recognizing the importance of the media, director Ali appealed to journalists and their respective media houses to desist from declaring results ahead of the electoral commission. “You can announce results. But do not declare” he maintained.
Educating journalists on how to source information, the elections director asked journalists seeking information to contact either the returning officer in the constituency or the presiding officer at the polling station.
However, he forbids journalists from seeking such information that may not be privy to the presiding officers because they were not permanent staff of the electoral commission.
He clarified that presidential and Parliamentary candidates respectively were entitled to only one polling agent at the polling station.
Reacting to a question from a journalist with regards to regional collation centres, director Ali said “Regional collation is not a new thing”. He recalled.
He stated that the difference between the district and regional collation centres were that Parliamentary results were declared at the district collation centre while the regional collation centre only announces results saying that the results declaration was the duty and sole preserve of the chair person of the electoral commission, who is the returning officer for the presidential election.
Turning to the role of the military in elections monitoring, the regional police commander indicated that the military’s role was only complementary and may only be called if the police gets overwhelmed.
Meanwhile, director Ali emphasized on the preferential treatment that were preserved for the aged and people living with disabilities (PWDs) including pregnant and nursing members.
Give accurate reportage in the 2024 elections – U/W Elections Security Task Force Urges Media
