Only EC has authority to declare election results, not media – Kan Dapaah cautions

The Minister of National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah, has cautioned media houses against prematurely announcing election results as it could lead to confusion and violence.

Speaking at the inaugural Ghana Report Summit held in Accra on August 1, 2024, he stated that while media houses and political parties have developed mechanisms to collate results, it is the responsibility of the Electoral Commission to announce the outcome of elections.

“We must not sacrifice our peace on the altar of misinformation and disinformation. As we go into the 2024 elections, the declaration of the results will be a critical juncture for misinformation,” the minister stressed.

While acknowledging that some political parties and media outlets have developed mechanisms to collect election results, he emphasized that these results should not be announced prematurely to avoid confusion.

“Remember it is the sole constitutional mandate of the Electoral Commission and we must respect this to maintain the integrity of the electoral process”, he noted.

He urged journalists to adhere to the highest ethical standards, emphasizing the importance of fact-checking and providing balanced reportage.

“The media bears a significant responsibility to educate the public and uphold the highest standards, emphasizing fact checking, balanced and objective analysis totally devoid of regime-changing agendas,” Kan-Dapaah said.

He also highlighted the role of every citizen in safeguarding democracy, emphasizing the need to avoid misinformation and disinformation to protect peace in the country.

JKB/MA

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