JOURNALISTS UPDATE KNOWLEDGE ON ELECTORAL SYSTEMS

A Seminar on Electoral Systems for media pratitioners in the Upper East Region is under way at Bolgatanga.

Under the theme, understanding the electoral system: The role of the media, the seminar is jointly organised by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) of Germany, the Electoral Commission (EC), and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).

It is to afford media practitioners an opportunity to update their knowledge of the country's electoral laws and processes.

Speaking on `Electoral laws and regulations', Professor Ernest Domor member of the EC respnsible for the Upper East and West Regions, said there was still some misunderstanding regards the work of the newly constituted electoral body.

The seminar, therefore, presented the finest opportunity for EC to explain what it had been doing since its inception, he said.

Prof Domor said EC was mounting the largest educational campaign ever to explain to the public the importance of their voting rights, and the need foe eligible citizens to register in order to win those rights.

On electoral laws and regulations in a democracy, he said "these must seek to promote basic human rights and entrench the democratic culture."

He called for a greater degree of socialization on the part of political parties, saying that they should show deeper commitment to the fulfilment of the ideals of society.

In an address read on his behalf Dr Peter Meyer, Resident Director of FES, said experience from most democratic societies had shown that in most cases there was still a lot of difficulty in understanding, let alone appreciating electoral systems.

Mr Bright Blewu, representative of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), siad from the prospective of journalists, the seminar was an important prelude to voter registration exercise.

The involvment of media practitioners in the democratic process, he noted, was important since they would assist to explain issues relating to the registration of voters to the public.

Mr Blewu thanked the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, on behalf of the GJA, for according media practitioners the opportunity to learn more about the electoral process, and urged greater participation on the part of the participants.