The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to reverse its decision to restrict media access to collation centres during the 2024 elections.
In a memo to its regional directors, the EC announced that only eight(8) media outlets would be accredited at each constituency collation centre. The allocation includes three(3) TV stations, each permitted two personnel, and five(5) radio stations, each with one representative.
At the regional collation centres, access will be limited to 12 media houses, five(5) TV stations with two personnel per station and seven(7) radio stations with one representative each.
Expressing concern over the directive, MFWA’s Executive Director, Sulemana Braimah, described the move as alarming and called for its reversal. The foundation argued that such restrictions could compromise transparency and accountability in the collation process, potentially undermining public trust in the electoral outcomes.
The MFWA emphasized the critical role of the media in ensuring credible elections and called on the EC to reconsider its position, advocating for broader media access to foster openness and confidence in the electoral process.