EC’s request for accreditation fee is ‘ridiculous’ - GIBA

Europa 13:50 - 11 April 2016

GIBA was responding to concerns raised by a section of journalists who are threatening to boycott coverage of the upcoming elections if the EC does not rescind its decision to charge them a fee for media accreditation.

George Foster Baffour thinks instead of charging the media houses for accreditation fees, the EC should rather introduce a supplementary budget for it.

An Executive Council Member of the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association-GIBA has described as ridiculous the Electoral Commission’s decision to charge a fee before issuing accreditation to media houses to cover elections.

He was responding to concerns raised by a section of journalists who are threatening to boycott coverage of the upcoming elections if the EC does not rescind its decision to charge them a fee for media accreditation.

The electoral commission charged Ghc8 per reporter before issuing accreditation to media houses that provided coverage for the 2015 District Level Elections.

Some of them expressed reservations over the situation saying they were even given tags meant for election observers and not the press.

But the obviously unhappy Mr. Baffour challenged the EC to come out if “they want to say that we should have a media blackout as far as the electioneering campaign and election proper is concerned then they should tell us”.

“How much will it cost the EC to give accreditation, Do you pay accreditation when you are going to the GFA or the National Sports Authority for you covering Black Stars matches or other relevant matches,” Mr. Baffour questioned.

“I think that they have taken the media for granted, they have absolutely taken the media for granted,” he fumed.

He also assured that his outfit would critically look into the matter and “then the relevant questions would be asked”.

George Foster Baffour however, called on government to intervene in the matter before it gets out of hand.