CDD-Ghana inaugurates Media Forum to enhance electoral reform advocacy ahead of 2024 elections

The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has inaugurated a Media for Electoral Reforms Forum to intensify advocacy towards ensuring transparent, credible and peaceful elections in Ghana.

Speaking at the inauguration meeting held on November 9 at the Airport West Hotel in Accra, Joseph Oti Frimpong, Programs Officer at CDD-Ghana said the forum is being set up to address lingering challenges that threaten the integrity of Ghana's elections.

Joseph Oti Frimpong, Programs Officer at CDD-Ghana, delivering a presentation at the meeting

These include chaotic events surrounding results collation, transmission and announcement, delays in parliament's adjudication of election petitions as well as low women representation in decision making.

"Through the expertise and platforms of our media partners, we hope to amplify calls for reforms to address these issues ahead of the 2024 general elections," Mr Frimpong said.

The specific objectives of the forum include advocating for the Electoral Commission to establish clear procedures for handling irregularities during elections and publish detailed polling station results online before declaring final tallies.

It also seeks to lobby Parliament to amend laws to expedite rulings on election petitions.

Members are also expected to engage stakeholders in enacting the Affirmative Action Law which reserves at least 30% of leadership positions for women.

In a speech delivered on his behalf, Mr. Albert Arhin, the National Coordinator for the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) said "To effectively implement electoral reforms, we need the expertise of the media to assist in our advocacy.

“This forum provides an open platform for discussions towards transparent, credible and peaceful polls,” he stressed.

Wilberforce Asare of Accra-based Asaase Radio and Nimatu Yakubu Atouyese of GhanaWeb were unanimously appointed as conveners of the forum.

Having lauded the initiative, the practitioners made suggestions including shifting the close of polls earlier and strengthening internet connectivity across the country to ensure timely transmission and publication of results online.

The Media Forum brings together experienced journalists to empower advocacy for reforms that will enhance Ghana's democracy as the nation prepares for another critical election cycle.

The CDD-Ghana partnered with the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), and the Affirmative Action Bill Coalition with funding from the European Union (EU).