Mr Steve Opoku-Mensah, Western Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), has congratulated the media in the region on the extensive coverage of the December 7 general elections without inflaming passions. He said such acts fostered cordial relationships, promoted professionalism and encouraged public officials to dialogue regularly with the media. Mr Opoku-Mensah said this at an end of year meeting of the Western Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in Takoradi on Monday. The meeting was to enable members of the media to take stock of their activities and strategies for the coming year. Mr Opoku-Mensah urged the media to continue to exhibit a high sense of professionalism and work hard to sustain the confidence the society had reposed in them, especially as the nation prepared for the December 28 run-off. He said electoral materials would be conveyed by the security personnel to the polling stations and back to the collation centres. Mr Opoku-Mensah said the run-off was between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic congress (NDC) and did not ballot because the NPP was first on the list and NDC was on the third. He said the ink would be used on the fore finger and urged all registered voters to vote early and avoid damaging their ballot. Mr George A. Naykene, Western Regional Chairman of the GJA commended journalists and other media workers for their various contributions towards the development of the region and the country as a whole. He urged them to re-strategies and prepare for the run-off, the Christmas festivities and the New Year. Mr Naykene reminded the media to ensure that they operated within the laws of the country. Source: GNA