EC can’t provide accreditation for all journalists – NMC

The Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Mr. Kwasi Gyan Appenteng, has said the Electoral Commission (EC) cannot accredit every journalist everywhere in Ghana.

He says the EC cannot accredit every journalist in all the corners of Ghana where the elections will take place.

The NMC boss noted: “We have to accept our responsibilities as media practitioners and organisations, and should be able to pay for the little to enable us to move round.”

According to him, this should be an exciting time for every journalist as we experience the festival of democracy.

Answering a question at the NMC’s new election monitoring report for Kumasi, under the auspices of the European Union (EU), Mr. Appenteng indicated that his views about the EC demanding money from the media for accreditation was personal and does not represent the stance of the NMC.

He noted: “The elections will take place across the country, and journalists should feel free to report the process. The accreditation is a very specific process. It will enable journalists to do certain things; probably to have more access to the election officials.”

The Executive Secretary of the NMC, Mr. George Sarpong, who took the media through a presentation, revealed that Kumasi media personnel are giving the political parties wider coverage than what the people are looking up to.

According to him, Kumasi-based radio stations allotted 79 percent of their coverage to political parties, namely, New Patriotic Party and National Democratic Congress (NDC), recording 42% and 36% respectively, with the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Convention People’s Party (CPP) and others following.

Mr. Sarpong revealed that the EC, referee in the upcoming elections, recorded 7% of media coverage in Kumasi.

He explained that the grievances of the masses in Kumasi are unemployment, education, utility bills and others, but these issues are not topical in the media.

He urged the media to be gender balanced in reportage and allow the voices of women to be heard.