The National Peace Council has advised media houses in the country to be circumspect in their reportage on the 2016 elections.

The Council has been engaging the media over issues that emerged during and after the 2012 elections and ways to avoid creating tension in the country.

One of the major concerns raised at the session was about the declaration of election results ahead of the Electoral Commission’s official results.

Speaking to Joy News, Ashanti Regional chairman of the Council, Prof Seth Opuni Asiama urged the media not to take over the EC’s role.

“Media houses should not rush, they should wait till the EC has certified results so that when they issue these results they are confident that there will be no changes to cause confusion later on”.

For media house who wish to have discussions while elections are ongoing, Prof Asiama advised that knowledgeable people should be invited to discuss the issues and project results but was quick to add that “they should always make sure their listeners are aware that this situation they are putting out is uncertified”.

During the 2012 general elections, some media houses were criticised for declaring the results before the EC made its final pronouncements.

But Prof Asiama believes this should not be repeated during the 2016 elections. He said the media should emphasise that what is being put out is not official but only provisional.

Meanwhile, the EC has pushed for a change in Ghana’s election timetable from December 7 to November 7 for the 2016 general elections.

The EC wishes with this new date will provide more time for a run-off if the leading candidate fails to gain the required 50-plus-one vote for an outright victory.

Director of Public Affairs of the Commission, Christian Owusu Parry confirmed the intended change on Joy FM’s Newsnight.

He explained that lessons in 2000 and 2008 informed the new proposal.