Since the re-introduction of multi-party democracy in Ghana for well over a decade ago many Ghanaians have increasingly shown a lot of interest in affairs shaping the direction of the state. In the current democratic dispensation the media have played and continue to play a pivotal role in ensuring good governance through accountability and transparency, institutional reforms and respect for the rights of the people. The media, especially radio, played a crucial role in ensuring a successful election in 2000 which saw, for the first time, the transfer of political power from an incumbent party to the opposition. In that watershed election, Joy FM and its partner stations in the Multimedia Group, along with scores of affiliate stations across the country were singled out for praise by election observers. The station’s team of reporters, including recruits, mainly from the universities, relayed polling station results back to the station directly on air. This enabled the citizenry to tally the results in their living rooms and offices while they sat glued to their radio sets monitoring the elections. As it was later proven the decision to broadcast polling station results as announced by electoral officials, coupled with the alertness of mobile-phone wielding reporters ensured that rigging and other illegitimate conduct were reduced to the minimum. Since then the media, especially radio, taking advantage of its easy mobility, has played a leading role in election monitoring. Ahead of the December 2008 elections Joy FM and its partners, Adom FM, Luv FM, Nhyira FM and Asempa FM have been busy with preparations for total election coverage to ensure that, once again, Ghana chalks up another landmark in its efforts at deepening democratic governance in the country. According to Joy FM’s programmes director, Kofi Owusu, as part of the station’s strategy to ensure effective coverage of the December elections it has entered into partnerships with reputable organizations including IEA, IDEG, and CDD among others to build the capacity of its reporters and correspondents in election reporting. Mr. Owusu believes that, just like in 2000, the media will be a crucial factor in ensuring a smooth exercise on December 7. He said Joy FM has lined up a series of training programmes with support from its partner, BBC World Service to present listeners with a good dose of well-researched political stories, analyses and interviews. The station’s programming has gradually been positioned to accommodate all the election-related issues giving listeners a wide-range of choice programmes for updates of political developments throughout the day right from the morning on the Super Morning Show through to the Mid-day News and the news analyses programme, Newsnight in the evening. Dubbed, ‘The Election Headquarters’ the 30-minute presentation on The Super Morning Show at 7.30, Midday News at 12.30 and Newsnight at 6.30pm provides daily updates on election-related issues with a focus on the campaign issues, voter concerns and expectations. Presenters Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Matilda Asante, Akwasi Sarpong and Evans Mensah will be assisted by objective analysts to dissect the political issues that are likely to sway independent voters as well as the deciding factors in swing areas for the December elections. Beginning early in the year Joy FM led the political debates with its Tuesday night-time programme, Ghana Decides hosted by veteran broadcaster, Karl Tuffuoh. The programme airs at 8pm till 10pm and features a panel of guests, mainly political actors, election observers, political analysts and voters plus a phone segment for listeners. Programmes Director, Kofi Owusu, noted that management decided to suspend the other political debate programme, Crossfire due to the use of intemperate language by some of the guests. He said by its design the programme generates heated debate as the moderators (from opposing parties) also take part in the discussions. Mr. Owusu said the station took the decision in line with its objective of contributing to a peaceful election exercise. In addition to this Joy FM has assigned a team of crack reporters to follow the presidential campaign trails of the four major political parties namely, Samson Lardi Ayenini for the NPP, Steve Anti for the NDC, Cyrus De-Graft Johnson for the CPP and Seth Kwame Boateng for PNC. The station’s regional correspondents have also been assigned to cover presidential running mates on their tours around the country. As it is traditional every election year, Joy FM and its partners will embark on well co-ordinated field trips around the country ahead of the December vote to gauge voter expectations and related issues. Mr. Owusu explained further that the field trips are actually a mopping up exercise following the trail of the series of roadshows around the country by Joy FM and Adom FM led by Super Morning Show presenter, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah and Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem host, Okuoba Gyasi. According to Mr. Owusu his office is inundated with phone calls from volunteers who want to take part in the monitoring exercise during voting. “While we welcome and do appreciate these offers we are also mindful of the responsibility that goes with our work. We will therefore take adequate measures to avoid infiltrators who might be nursing diabolic plans.” "It’s indeed a great time to be Ghanaian and rather than be apprehensive about the elections Mr. Owusu said adding that "Ghanaians should rejoice in the fact that God has blessed us and given us the opportunity to help shape the future of this great country." Credit: Joy FM