EC cautions media against skewed electoral reportage

Ho, Dec. 28, GNA - The Electoral Commission (EC) on Sunday cautioned media practitioners against electoral reports that tend to incite the population as this has the tendency of creating mayhem. "The media especially, some radio stations, use ill-trained media practitioners who file wild reports from a few polling stations which they generalize as the national trend," Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, EC Chairman, told the Ghana News Agency at Ho after touring parts of Greater Accra, Volta and Eastern regions during the presidential run-off.

Dr. Afari-Gyan said the poor reportage created room for retaliatory action from officials of both candidates - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Professor John Evans Atta Mills of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). The EC Chairman urged the media to adhere to strict journalistic standards, stressing "electoral reportage that incites heightens political tension, creates confusion and jeopardizes the credibility of the election results".

Dr. Afari-Gyan therefore called on the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), National Media Commission (NMC) and the two contending political parties to crosscheck allegations from official EC sources before going out to the public. The EC Chairman toured, Ashaiman, Sege, Ada, Ningo Prampram, all the Greater Accra region; Anloga, Keta, Aflao, Abutiakope, Setsinu, Denu, Kpetoe, Adaklu Anyigba, Agotime Akwetteh, Ho, Tsito all the Volta Region and some villages in the Asougyaman and Krobo-Odumasi in the Eastern Region. The EC Chairman's team, which included a journalist from the Ghana News Agency, observed during the tour that contrary to speculation that NPP agents were prevented from performing their electoral duties they were at post at all the centres visited.

At Eastridge Srogboe Junior High School polling station, Mr Eric Afladey represented the NPP whilst Mr Peter Kwashie represented the NDC; at Abutiakope NPP was represented by Mr Isaac Mensah and Mr Daniel Amandi Snr. whilst the NDC was represented by Mr Vincent Afedomezi and Alphones Alobuia. The team observed a pleasant working relationship among the party agents contrary to media speculation of scuffles among them. Ms Laurencia Kpatakpa, Volta Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, dismissed the allegation that polling agents of the NPP were prevented from performing their electoral duties in the region. She said the Regional and Constituency executives of the NPP failed to adhere to electoral directives of appointing and forwarding the names of polling agents to EC at least three days before polls for accreditation.

Ms. Kpatapka said on Sunday morning the executives brought a list of 36 new names to substitute some names in the original 158 agents for the Ho East Constituency. The list had no indication of the polling station they were being assigned to and who they are replacing, she said, adding "such a situation creates room for confusion."

The list included; Bawuah K. Isaac, Atta Agyei Solomon, Oppong Gordon, Samuel Aidoo, Vincent Addison, Boadi David Ofosu, Helena Baah, Abdul Basit, Franklin Adubortor, Prince Nana Addo, Ernest Boadu Antwi, Alexander Luke Odoi, Samuel Boakye, Alexander A. Frimpong and Noah Quagyraire. Others were: Adoatey King George, Francis Kwesi Ackom, Isaac Asare, Mensah Theophilus, Charles Asare Owusu, Micheal O. K. Tetteh, Richmond Hanson, Raha Appiah, Joseph Acheampong, R. O. Agyemang and Kuditcher Charles. The rest were: Antwi A. Patience, Ablorh Alexander, Emmanuel Ablorh Sowah, Clement Bortey Borketey, Agidipo D. Jackson, Osei Bonsu Boampong, Amankwaa De-Graft, Sadik M. Amin, Appiagyei Adolf and Teiko Eric.