Journalists have to pay to cover 2016 elections – EC

Journalists interested in covering the 2016 general elections are expected to pay in order to be issued with accreditation for the national exercise.

The amount to be paid is yet to be determined by the Electoral Commission, a statement by the electoral body said. “Accreditation tags will be given to only those who have formally applied for it and for a fee to be determined by the Commission,” the statement signed by Eric Kofi Dzakpasu, Head of Communications at EC, said on Monday.

Media organizations, the statement said, have from today Monday, 31st October to Monday 7th of November 2016 to apply for accreditation. “All requests for accreditation should be sent through the Regional representatives of the GJA to the Communications Unit of the Electoral Commission or by email at: mediaoffice@ec.gov.gh,” it said.

The Commission warned that any request submitted after the deadline of 7th November, 2016 will not be considered.

This would probably be the first time the media is being asked to pay to access EC’s accreditation to cover national elections, but efforts to reach the Electoral Commission for clarification were futile.

Media institutions are to submit names of personnel, emails, contact number and the name of the media house for the accreditation.