Human Rights Court Judge, Justice Gifty Adjei Addo, has refused to continue hearing the suit filed by President of the International Standards Journalist Association (ISJA) against the Electoral Commission in which he is challenging the electoral management body’s decision to charge journalists fees for accreditation to cover the December 7 polls.
Dr. Nana Oppong, counsel for the plaintiff has, however, expressed shock at the development.
He said he feared that the decision may delay the case at hand.
READ ALSO: Journalists drag EC to court over accreditation fee
The International Standards Journalists Association (ISJA) dragged the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana to court for demanding that journalists pay for their accreditation to cover the December 7 elections.
The EC announced that media houses were to pay for the printout of the media accreditation to enable them cover the elections.
“Accreditation tags will be given to only those who have formally applied for them and for a fee to be determined by the Commission,” a statement issued by the election management body said.
Some media stakeholders however raised issues with the decision, with the ISJA subsequently dragging the EC to court over the matter.
The President of the group, Dr. Nana Oppong had earlier said they will not pay for the accreditation but would cover the elections.
He said “we will cover the election but we will not pay the money that the EC is demanding and we are going to see what decision the EC is going to take against journalists who intend to cover free and fair and peaceful election in accordance with the constitution of the country.”