A new software application, Election Watch is currently undergoing testing to be used by journalists and other stakeholders during the coverage of the December general elections.
The test drive is to fix any bugs or glitches that may affect the real-time working capacity of the software.
The Chief Executive Officer of SoftMasters, Dr. Ben Adu disclosed that the software application is time-stamped and location bound.
The new software application is said to be able to capture, monitor and track election violence or incidents that may hinder the smooth operation of the general elections.
Election Watch was assembled by a private organisation called SoftMasters in collaboration with the National Media Commission.
The Stakeholders he said involves Journalists, the Ghana Police Service, the Electoral Commission, National Commission for Civic Education, Private Newspapers Association, Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association, National Commission for Small Arms, Ghana Armed Forces, and other Security Agencies.
Dr. Ben Adu noted that although the application will be free and available on Google Play Store and Apple Store, representatives from the stakeholder institutions will be specifically registered with the Ghana Journalist’s Association to ensure credibility of sources.
“The GJA will accredit the journalist, so these journalists are going to register to have the application and when they send this information, we will know that this is the source, this is what is coming in, and this is where it’s coming from, hence we know it’s beyond doubt and we can use that information for whatever ends to ensure that peace in this country,” Dr. Ben stated.
The Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission, George Sarpong has also stated that making the software open to all will contribute to the monitoring process.
“Anybody who has any grievance about any media house reportage can record the particular content they have questions on and submit it for consideration and analysis, it doesn’t matter where you are,
“Once you hear something on the radio or see something on television or even on social media and you have concerns about, you can submit that for consideration,” he said.
He added that the software is able to quickly access information and verify data to make it readily available to the public.
