2024: MFWA and EC train  over 30 journalists  in election reporting in Ashanti Region

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) together with the Electoral Commission has organised a Media Engagement and Election Reporting Workshop for over 30 journalists in Ashanti Region ahead of the general elections on December 7, 2024.

The day program held in Kumasi on Thursday, October 10, 2024 at Miklin Hotel was on the Theme “Enhancing Media Capacity for Fact-based Reportage and Countering Elections-Related Mis/Disinformation”.

Speaking as the main speaker of the training,The Ashanti Regional Director of Electoral Commission, Mr. Francis Osei- Nsiah outline the responsibility of journalists ahead of the 2024 General Election.

He said , Voter turnout is only one aspect of free and fair elections, it is the responsibility of journalists to notify the public of this information.

“In line with this it is the need for us and our partners like MFWA to be properly trained and enlight you in order to accomplish this your duties accurately”

He pointed out that, Journalists bear the duty of providing this information to citizens.

Mr. Osei Nsiah further stated that, Free and Fair elections are not limited to just casting of ballots, It also hinged on the information available to voters on the logistical and institutional issues related to the electoral process.

He stated that the electoral commission cannot conduct any electoral process without the awareness and involvement of major stakeholders, namely political parties and their allies.

‘ now the commission is about to print out notice of poll and the ballot papers , all the parties contesting this year’s elections are going to be present at the various printing houses with their agents and private securities , the state will also bring in national security, police and military’

To ensure openness and integrity, he said, the commission used local businesses with international standards for ballot papers printing instead of outsourcing the printing of papers to foreign enterprises.

The EC Director commended Media Foundation For West Africa ( MFWA) and asked the media to ease citizens’ anxieties and encourage them to vote when the time comes.

Mr. Daniel Kwame Ampofo Adjei, Programs Manager of MFWA, commended journalists who attended the training and encouraged them to use it before, during, and after the elections.

He stated that the goal of MFWA is to limit misinformation and disinformation in the media.

Sources:myashhfmonline.com