Don’t report on elections based on rumours – EC boss advises media

The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei, has urged the media to avoid publishing careless and untrue stories that have the potential of threatening the stability of the country.

She said, the media should desist from doing their stories on the upcoming general elections based on speculations and rumours.

Ghana goes to the polls in December to elect a President and 275 Parliamentarians to help govern the country for the next four years in a crucial elections which promises to be keenly contested, especially among the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the largest opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Speaking at this year’s Ghana Journalists Awards ceremony in Accra, the EC Boss who was the special guest of honour, emphasized that the Commission remains committed to organizing a free and fair elections that will be acceptable to all stakeholders, adding that the media has a key role to play in realizing this object.

“Please check everything you report on the electoral exercise, do not base your report on mere speculations and rumours. At the Electoral Commission we are committed to engaging the media and leaving our doors open to you as key partners in the process.We are willing to clarify, explain and engage to educate. Because your failure to report accurately may create the condition for a disputed electoral outcome without basis and as a nation we do not need that” She said.

Mrs Osei added: “So I’m pleading for a return to first principles, the principles that make journalism a profession worthy of our respect and the protects our constitution provides as journalists.”