By; JOSEPH ODOEKWU
Journalists and Media practitioners who arrived Accra earlier yesterday to pick up their Media Accreditation ahead of the event which officially starts on Friday, March 8, encountered bitter experience in picking up their accreditations as lack of communication apparently subjected them to puzzle on where to get their Media Accreditations.
Recall that during the Media Seminar which took place at Sun Lodge Hotel in Accra ahead of the Games, Media practitioners were assured by the LOC that approval letters will be sent to them which shall also indicate where they are expected to pick up their accreditations upon arrival.
However, this was not the case as this writer who arrived the University of Ghana Stadium on Tuesday after receiving an approval letter that did not indicate the venue, had to be turned around on several occasions on where to pick up the accreditation.
He met more of several volunteers who either did not know where the Media Accreditation were to be given or felt the information was not meant for him and this led to some form of frustration.
After series of search for the location, he was privileged to meet with the accreditation manager who insisted that location for pickup of the accreditation tags were stated on the approval letter but was shocked to eventually see that the accreditation letters issued to international journalists did not have any location for pick up of their accreditations upon arrival after this writer showed him what was sent to him. This made the accreditation manager Samuel Korley apologize, but also informed the Journalist that the venue is at the airport.
“We expect that every international journalists will arrive through the airport” Korley stated.
“And that was why we chose the international airport as the pick up point”.
“But we are actually sorry that the approval letters did not convey the location and I apologize for that” Samuel Korley told this writer.
*More Drama At Airport As Local Journalists Fault Process*
Upon arrival at the designated venue for pick up of the media Accreditation at the Airport, this writer met a drama which ensued between some Ghanaian Journalists who disagreed with the process and heaped blame on the LOC for lack of communication and not fixing the venue for the pick up in a more central location.
A Ghanaian Journalist, Ishmael, based in Kumasi who reports for *The New Independent* expressed his displeasure over the system and lamented that the LOC got it all wrong following this whole process.
‘I am a Journalist based in Kumasi, Ghana’. ‘What I really do not understand is why I should be termed as an International Journalist and now been compelled to come to the airport to pick up my Accreditation, when I can easily pick it up at the University Sports complex’ he started.
‘It is bad planning, as it’s even worse that the approval letter which was given to me did not indicate that I should come to the airport and if not for the fact that am a Ghanaian and have been making a lot of inquiries, I would not know the venue’ he lamented.
‘What would be the fate of international Journalist coming in who also have such letters without address of where to pick up of their Accreditation, will this not cause so much troubles for them?’ an aggrieved Ishmael asked rhetorically.
Several other Ghanaian journalist who were present as at time of the incident expressed displeasure in the whole process and unanimously agreed that there was lack of communication between the LOC and International Journalists as this could cause so much pains when they arrive.
Sadly, the LOC did not in anyway consider that media practitioners from neighbouring countries such as Togo, Benin Republic, Nigeria amongst others could likely come in through land, subjecting them to the Airport to pick up their accreditation would cause hardship and unnecessary expenses as they would have just been made to pick up their accreditations at a more central location like the University Sports complex, where activities of the Games would be at its peak.
Worse still, international journalists who arrive through flight will also get their own share of the pains, as most of them who do not have the address of the location to pick up their accreditations at the airport are most likely to pass without knowing that accreditations will be picked up at a particular spot at the airport and this could make them be turned back to the airport when they get into the city and find this out.
Furthermore, there are no signposts or communication gadget at the location of the airport to direct those who will arrive by flight to where media accreditations are, as this apparently means they are likely to suffer some setback unless some luck will be on their side to enable them get the information.
*Contradictory Information On Media Accreditation Tags*
Another hitch which media practitioners would experience in Accra is the contradictory details provided on the front cover of media accreditation which journalists are to work with.
It was observed that media practitioners were given “ALL VENUES” access, but codes provided below the accreditation restricts all holders of the same Media Accreditations to 3,4,5 which are: Public Areas(3), Athletes Preparation Areas(4) and Press Areas(5). What is not clear as at time of filing this report is how journalists are expected to abide by the rules when these tags have provided two contradictory directives.
In fact, by virtue of these details if the 3,4,5 codes are abided with, it means that photographers and cameramen wearing these tags will not be allowed to FIELD OF PLAY area (1) which ordinarily has become a global location for them as these positions enable them capture memories clearly particularly in sports such as football and other field related sports.
While all these have been identified, it is important to inform all media practitioners through this medium that accreditations will be picked up at CAR PARK 4 at the airport, just as the accreditation manager Samuel Korley had informed this writer as at time of filing this report.
‘The Airport at Car Park 4, remains the location for pick up of media accreditation’ Korley had insisted.
Meanwhile, the LOC really needs to clear the air on issues related to usage of the accreditations to avoid putting the media in a situation where they will be confused and by extension fall prey of been termed potential law breakers.
The 13th African Games kicks of on March 8 and runs to 23, 2024 in Accra and Cape Coast, it is expected that about 13,000 athletes shall slug it out in 30 sports disciplines.
