Electoral Commission Limits Media Access to Collation Centres for 2024 Elections

The Electoral Commission (EC) has issued new directives limiting media and observer access to collation centres during the 2024 general election. The move aims to ensure a secure and efficient collation process, according to the Commission.

Under the guidelines, only eight media houses will be granted access to each constituency collation centre, while 12 media houses—comprising five TV stations and seven radio stations—will be allowed at regional collation centres.

Dr. Eric Bossman Asare, Deputy Commissioner of the EC, provided clarity on the decision during an interview on Eyewitness News on Tuesday, November 26.

“We arrived at our conclusion based on our history and the nature of the collation centres. If you are not very careful and you don’t manage the centres very well, you may end up having a lot of challenges to deal with,” Dr. Bossman Asare explained.

He emphasized that the restrictions are part of broader efforts to streamline the collation process and avoid potential disruptions.

“The commission believes that this particular arrangement will create a very smooth collation exercise at the constituency and the regional level.

“We are not only reducing numbers for the media; it is something which cuts across. We are making the point that with the eight media houses, let us take a constituency like Banda, Hohoe, or Bantama—having eight media houses should be enough to send the information,” he noted.

The directive has sparked discussions among media stakeholders and election observers, with some raising concerns about its implications for transparency and access to information.

The EC has maintained that the measures are necessary to maintain order and efficiency during the collation process, particularly in the high-stakes environment of a general election. The Commission has also indicated its willingness to engage with media organizations to address concerns and ensure that credible and timely election coverage is not compromised.

The 2024 general election is set to be a closely watched event, and the EC’s decision on media access will likely remain a topic of debate as the country prepares for the polls.