The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has deployed election volunteers in all the 276 constituencies across the country.
The GJA election volunteers will observe the general conduct of the elections and particularly report infractions of, and against, media practitioners to the leadership of the Association for quick resolution.
A statement signed and issued in Accra on Friday, December 6, 2024 by the GJA General Secretary, Kofi Yeboah, stated that “in an election project towards promoting credible and successful conduct of the elections, the GJA has set up a platform to project provisional and certified results of the elections on giant monitors mounted at the Press Centre for the benefit of the media, political actors and the general public.”
It further revealed that at the Ghana International Press Centre (Press Centre) provisional results of the December 7 elections will be collected and collated.
Monitoring team
The GJA, according to the statement, has also set up a seven-member Election Monitoring Team to compile a comprehensive report on the outcome of the elections.
Furthermore, the GJA has designated the Gifty Afenyi Dadzie Conference Hall at the Press Centre as a prime location for the organisation of press conferences on election-related matters by all political actors.
The statement further stated that “given the central location of the Press Centre, it offers a central port of call and great convenience at no cost to all the political actors and the media for interaction on election-related matters.”
It explained that the GJA has engaged extensively with, and received round endorsement from, political parties and media managers about the initiative.
Accreditation
Meanwhile, the GJA has received 9,009 media accreditation tags from the Electoral Commission as of Thursday, December 5, 2024, for distribution to media practitioners, including 100 foreign journalists, covering the elections.
“We urge media practitioners to endeavour to promote peace in all aspects of their work during the electioneering. We wish to advise media practitioners to think about the good of the country in all circumstances as they cover the elections, fearing nothing and favouring none” the statement further advised.
It urged media practitioners to be circumspect and avoid pitfalls that may expose them to harm of any kind but they must be bold and remain resolute in the discharge of their duties in order to protect and project the sovereign will of the people.
Logistics
The statement also urged media owners and managers to equip their staff covering the elections with adequate tools and necessities, including food and means of transportation, so that they are not led into compromises that may undermine their independence and vigilance.
Special voting
The statement commended the media for a good job done on the Special Voting Days last Monday and Thursday, particularly the vigilance they exhibited at Ayawaso West Wuogon, to lay bare evidence of the disturbing incidents that occurred in the constituency during voting.
“We call on all political actors and the general public to support the media in the discharge of their duties, and to avoid attacking media practitioners.” it said.
The statement particularly called on the Ghana Police Service to protect media practitioners covering the elections to enable them discharge their duties effectively and efficiently.
Foreign journalists
It welcomed foreign journalists who have arrived in Ghana to cover the elections and invited them to visit the Press Centre located on the Gamel Abdul Nasser Avenue in Accra for information, and informalities.
The statement appealed to media practitioners who come into harm's way in the line of duty to contact the GJA Hotlines: 025 662 2583 / 050 357 7215 for support.
