I think some Ghanaians are uncomfortable with the idea of the media "calling" elections. This is the 5th election in the 4th Republic and by now most of us know or should know that the Electoral Commission is the authorized body to "declare" elections. I think the idea of someone saying anything no matter what it is, makes some people uncomfortable. In a democratic era free speech reigns. We have a God-given right backed by the Constitution to know what is happening in government. How many radio stations were in Ghana in 1992 or even 1996. Many days after we voted in the 1996 elections, we were left in the dark in terms of information only to be told by radio GAR of the certified results from the EC. Because there was that vacuum and information was not forth coming it gave the impression of impropriety on the part of the government to rig elections. Joy FM projected the results and called it for Mills. I must also say that they were not the only station that did so. At least three other stations did same. Right before the Chairman of the Electoral Commission announced the outcome of the run-off, Joy FM proclaimed that the EC is expected to declare the results for Professor Mills. How did Joy FM go wrong? By saying they were projecting the results for one candidate? Everyone in Ghana knows the EC was to declare the final result but we followed the trends before the EC came out. You are not obliged to listen to JOY or all the stations that engaged in analysis. To my knowledge, presenters on JOY, Radio Gold, Vibe and Adom FM all projected the results for Mills. VOA and BBC all noted that the opposition candidate was expected to get the nod from the EC. Was the BBC wrong too? Joy FM even went as far as making it clear that it’s projection was subject to the declaration of the EC Chairman who has the official mandate to declare the final result. Lastly, Joy also told of the number of constituencies they worked with, which was minus Tain. This means JOY FM was not wrong because the election in Tain had been suspended. I believe the writer of the initial article meant well but I want him and all Ghanaians to know that FM stations, TV, print and electronic media houses will always make projections. This not the first time projections have been made. As a reader or listener take projections as something that is likely to happen and wait for Afari-Gyan. If you don't like projections then please wait for the Chairman of the EC and don't pay any attention to radio stations. God Bless Ghana. Credit: Stephen Quist [quist.stephen@yahoo.com]