The Media Coalition Ghana has praised media practitioners for their resilience and dedication to democratic principles and professionalism throughout the 2024 elections.
The Coalition described the media coverage of the elections as one of the best in the country’s history.
Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, President of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), noted improvements in both field and studio reporting despite the challenges faced.
He also acknowledged the efforts of the Coalition’s election volunteers and all media practitioners for their professional conduct during the elections.
“The Media Coalition Ghana says AYEEKOO to you all for the great work done,” he added.
Mr. Dwumfour stated that there was no question that the Ghanaian media, widely respected by its counterparts across Africa, once again demonstrated its crucial role in fostering transparency, accountability, and public dialogue throughout the electoral process.
He said that the media provided comprehensive coverage of the electoral process, including candidate profiles, policy debates, and voter education initiatives.
The GJA President also noted that journalists worked diligently to deliver real-time updates on voting, counting, and the collation of results, which played a key role in ensuring transparency and accountability.
He added that, as the public could now see, the media had been offering in-depth analysis of the election results, helping to foster a deeper understanding of both the electoral process and its outcomes.
However, Mr. Dwumfour acknowledged the challenges faced by the media during this period.
Some reporters encountered safety concerns while covering the election on the ground, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced security measures to protect journalists.
“Some of our colleagues were in areas where the shooting incidents occurred, though we did not receive any report of physical attack, some journalists were traumatised because they were right at the places where the killings took place,” he said.
He noted that the media faced challenges in obtaining information from some electoral officials, stressing the need for improved communication and transparency within the electoral process.
Mr. Dwumfour expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies, whose work ensured that journalists could carry out their duties peacefully and without hindrance.
He lauded these agencies for protecting media practitioners and contributing to the overall peaceful conduct of the election.
The Media Coalition Ghana also commended the Electoral Commission for its collaboration with the GJA in training journalists on credible election reporting and for providing free accreditation to both local and international journalists.
However, the Coalition expressed dissatisfaction with how the EC managed the accreditation process for covering the proceedings at the National Collation Centre.
The Media Coalition Ghana includes the GJA, Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association, Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana, and the New Media Association of Ghana.
GNA
