She said the 2012 elections revealed that some media houses reported on perception and allegations as facts, which created tension.

Ms. Kumah made the call at a day’s training workshop on electoral laws, organised for journalists from selected media houses and police personnel in Accra yesterday.

The programme, organised by AWLA with funding from STAR-Ghana, aimed at enhancing the participants’ knowledge on the electoral laws.

Ms. Kumah urged journalists to be impartial, accurate, and balanced in their reportage, to ensure the socio-economic development of the country.

She advised them not to announce election results during the December polls, adding that such practice could lead to violence in the country.

“It is important that the reports are done in a clear and unambiguous manner, since journalists have a larger responsibility to report accurately and in the right context,” she stressed.

Ms. Kumah reminded media practitioners that their role was vital to the development of the country.

The Executive Secretary of AWLA, Ms. Afiba Amihere, advised the electorate to desist from impersonation and declaration of false statements during elections.

She noted that over the past 20 years Ghana has held six successful elections, with minor electoral violence, and urged the media to help in ensuring free and fair elections.

Ms. Amihere asked the security agencies to help ensure violence-free elections.

By Anita Nyarko-Yirenkyi