The Electoral Commission (EC) has suspended its earlier decision to limit the number of accredited media houses permitted at collation centres during the December 7 elections.

This was announced by Deputy EC Commissioner Dr. Bossman Asare during the “Graphic National Development Series” held in Accra on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.

The suspension follows discussions with the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), which raised concerns about the policy's impact on media coverage.

Dr. Asare assured stakeholders that further consultations would take place to develop a revised policy ensuring balanced media access while maintaining order at collation centres.

“The EC introduced the directive to prevent chaos at collation centres.

In some regions, there may be hundreds of media houses, but the available space at collation centres is limited.

We issued that statement to ensure orderliness, not to restrict media reporting,” he clarified.

The original directive, issued in a memo dated November 25, 2024, had planned to limit media access to eight accredited organisations at collation centres.

Dr. Asare emphasized that the EC values the role of the media in promoting transparency and ensuring free and fair elections.

He also reiterated the Commission’s commitment to improving or maintaining the 79% voter turnout achieved in the 2020 elections.

Encouraging voter participation, Dr. Asare noted that ballots had been prepared for every registered voter.

“If it means travelling to Tamale or any other part of the country to vote, please do so.

It is your civic responsibility as a Ghanaian,” he urged.

The EC’s preparations, he said, are geared towards ensuring a successful and orderly election, building on its track record of managing Ghana’s electoral processes effectively.