Member of Parliament Subin in the Ashanti Region, Eugene Boakye Antwi, has expressed disappointment in Ghanaian media.
The MP says journalist must help us MPs to ensure effective running of the nation by following up on issues that are raised in Parliament and various places but journalists in the country have failed to do so.
Mr. Boakye Antwi expressed this disappointment on Onua FM’s Ghana Dadwene on Friday while contributing to a discussion on the summoning of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs. Charlotte Osei to appear before Parliament next week to answer questions pertaining to the 2016 general elections.
Mrs. Osei is expected to respond to questions about how much the Commission raised from monies it collected from journalists during the 2016 elections.
In addition, the EC boss will also be answering questions about how much the Commission expanded on the replacement of lost Voters ID Cards. Journalist across the country and international media had to pay an amount of GHC10.00 each for accreditation to cover the 2016 general elections.
The issue about accreditation fees became a controversial subject ahead of the 2016 election but not the engagements and pleas from the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) and civil society organization would propel the EC to rescind its decision.
But seven months after the elections, the EC has failed to account to the people of Ghana how much it raised from the two transactions, that is, accreditation fee and the replacement of the lost voter ID cards. Mr. Boakye Antwi said [in Twi]
“I am disappointed in the Ghanaian journalist because I said this in March 2017 during the approval of the 2017 budget but you did not take it up. Whenever we say something, you must follow up to help us”.
He said the EC boss should come and tell the House how much they gain? “She will tell us the number of journalists who applied and how much was made from it”.
Mr. Antwi said whatever figure and amount “she brings, she would have to verify it because she cannot come and lie in Parliament”.