The Ashanti Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Mr. Francis Osei-Nsiah, has reaffirmed the Electoral Commission’s commitment to ensuring a fair and transparent general election in 2024.
Addressing media personnel at a workshop organized by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Mr. Osei-Nsiah emphasized the importance of trust in the election process, specifically highlighting the measures taken to safeguard the integrity of ballot papers.
“We use serial numbers to track our ballot papers. Our ballot papers can never fall into the hands of anyone outside our jurisdiction,” he assured attendees, stressing that these measures are designed to prevent any manipulation of the voting process.
Mr. Osei-Nsiah urged the media to play a crucial role in educating the public on the safety and reliability of the electoral system, particularly during this sensitive pre-election period. He emphasized the need for media houses to publish data-driven, evidence-backed reports to combat misinformation and disinformation.
Acknowledging the media’s responsibility to remain impartial, he stated, “The media should not be a conduit for mishap,” encouraging journalists to maintain the professionalism they have shown over the years.
The workshop, themed “Enhancing Media Capacity for Fact-Based Reporting and Countering Elections-Related Mis/Disinformation,” aimed to equip media personnel with the tools necessary to report accurately and responsibly.
Attendees discussed critical issues and challenges related to misinformation, with stakeholders highlighting the importance of media integrity during elections.
During the event, Mr. Osei-Nsiah provided further details on the measures the Electoral Commission is taking to ensure transparency, including the demarcation of electoral areas, the recruitment of temporary officials, and the secure printing of ballot papers.
He revealed that the printing of ballot papers would commence the next day, with all relevant information, including the names of the printing houses, published on the Commission’s official website. “The process is transparent,” he assured.
Daniel Kwame Ampofo Adjei, Institutional Development, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Manager at MFWA and the moderator of the workshop, reinforced the importance of fact-based reporting during the election period.
He outlined the joint efforts of MFWA and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to ensure a peaceful, fair, and accurate election process.
“We name and shame individuals and corporations using indecent language on our airwaves. To ensure decency, specific radio programs are being tracked,” Mr. Ampofo explained.
He highlighted that political programs are being closely monitored to prevent the spread of inflammatory statements, which could incite unrest.
Mr. Ampofo urged the media to continue their vital role in countering misinformation and disinformation, stressing that accurate and responsible reporting is key to maintaining peace and stability during the 2024 general elections.
Source:Ghana/ www.kumasimail.com /Abel Kusi
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