The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has criticized the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to limit media access to constituency and regional collation centres during the 2024 general elections, calling it “misguided” and demanding its immediate reversal.
The EC, in a memo to regional directors, explained that the move aims to streamline operations and enhance security during the collation of election results.
The directive permits only eight media houses at the constituency level and 12 at the regional level, with selections based on perceived credibility by the EC’s regional directors.
Responding to the announcement, Sulemana Braimah, Executive Director of MFWA, expressed his concerns during an interview on Channel One TV. He argued that the decision undermines the media’s role in ensuring transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
“They are saying that they are limiting media presence in the collation centres; 8 media houses at the constituency level and 12 at the regional level, one wonders whether they are going to be doing the collation in shops or in classrooms. I propose that these are public events and who else is better to bring the information to the public than the media?
“They are saying the regional directors must select media houses they deem credible and they limit it to radio and television. Since when did media become radio and television? What about newspapers and online publications? So, I think this is a very misdirected action. As they are better late than ever, I think this is something they should be reversed,” he stated.
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