Update knowledge On Electoral Laws

A Director of the Electoral Commission (EC) responsible for the Brong Ahafo Region, has urged media practitioners to update their knowledge on electoral laws and processes to enable them educate the electorate to ensure peaceful, free and fair polls on December 7.

Nana Amba Eyiaba I, observed that the media had a crucial role to play in ensuring free and fair elections and, therefore, entreated journalists to avoid speculation and the announcement of unconfirmed results when the polls came to a close on that day.

“As a matter of fact, all media practitioners covering the polls should always cross-check their information with the EC before going public. By so doing, we will ensure peaceful polls,” she stressed.

Nana Eyiaba, who is also the Krontihemaa of the Oguaa Traditional Area in the Central Region said this at a day's capacity-building workshop on election reporting organised by the EC for media practitioners in the Brong Ahafo Region at Fiapre in the Sunyani West District on Tuesday.

According to the her, it did not take only the commission to ensure free and fair elections, saying it was the responsibility of all stakeholders in the electoral process, especially the media.

She gave the assurance that the EC had put in place adequate mechanisms to take care of every problem that might arise, leading to transparency and fairness to all in the elections.

Responding to a question as to whether media practitioners would be allowed to take part in the special voting on December 2 for security personnel and other essential staff, Nana Eyiaba said as of now the special dispensation was for security personnel who would be deployed to maintain law and order at the various polling stations.

She, however, said media practitioners who would be covering the elections through their various organisations could apply to see whether the EC would grant them that request to vote on that special day.

A Deputy Director of Research and Monitoring at the EC Headquarters in Accra, Mr Samuel Ntow, called on political parties contesting the December 7 elections to select polling agents who knew the electorate to ensure a peaceful process.

He reiterated the assurance that the EC had in place and the in-built mechanism that would check any problem that would arise in the wake of the December 7 polls.

He urged the media to be circumspect in their reportage on the election day in order to ensure peaceful polls.