The Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA), in partnership with MTN Ghana, has convened a conference to mark International Women’s Day, calling for stronger support systems to empower women in the media industry.
The event, themed “Empowering Women in Media to Break Barriers, Build Resilience and Shape Narratives,” brought together media professionals, industry leaders, and stakeholders to discuss the challenges women face and strategies to overcome them.
International Women’s Day is celebrated globally to recognize women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements while advocating for accelerated gender equality.
Opening the conference, AWMA Convener Mercy Catherine Adjabeng emphasized that celebrating women should go beyond a single day.
“Interestingly, the whole month of March is dedicated to women. International Women’s Day is one day, but we should seize every opportunity to celebrate women,” she said, praising the support from MTN Ghana.
“Women really rock, and this event is proof of what women can achieve. Having women involved in decision-making leads to more inclusive outcomes,” Adjabeng added.
Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, Acting General Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Ghana, stressed the need for deliberate efforts to increase female participation in media.
“Despite our engagements across media organizations in all regions of Ghana, women still make up less than 10% of participants in some areas,” she said.
She emphasized that empowering women goes beyond on-air roles. “Women must be present in all critical discussions, not just in frontline media,” Fiagbenu said, highlighting initiatives like scholarships and digital skills programs that prioritize women.
“Everyone is blogging and setting up online TV channels. Men are getting the numbers and views, but women can do just as much, if not more, in that space,” she added.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Audrey Gadzekpo placed the discussion in both global and national contexts, noting that inequalities persist despite progress.
“Globally, women hold only 64% of the legal rights enjoyed by men, while Ghana stands at 75%. Our score is above average, but gaps remain, and we must work to close them,” she said.
Professor Gadzekpo highlighted ongoing challenges in Ghana, including gender-based violence, with studies showing that 28% to over 41% of women have experienced intimate partner violence. She also pointed to women’s underrepresentation in leadership and decision-making within the media, with only 35% of the workforce being female and just 20% in leadership roles.
“Women are especially marginalised in political reporting, investigative journalism, and editorial decision-making,” she said, citing barriers such as online harassment, cultural norms, and institutional bias.
“In 2023, nearly 70% of female journalists in Ghana faced some form of online abuse. Such attacks often silence women and force self-censorship,” Professor Gadzekpo warned.
She urged women to move from visibility to influence. “Presence without power is mere decoration. We must move from representation to influence,” she stressed.
On resilience, she said: “Resilience is not simply endurance… it is deliberately using the resources we need to keep telling the truth when the world wants us to stop.”
Professor Gadzekpo also called for stronger mentorship and collaboration among women, encouraging them to take control of digital platforms: “Where are our blogs? We can shape our narratives and build our own platforms.”
She emphasized collective responsibility, calling on media organizations, policymakers, and male allies to support gender equality. “The work of empowering women in media cannot rest on the shoulders of women alone,” she said.
The conference also featured a panel discussion where experienced media professionals shared their career insights and reflected on the challenges and successes they have encountered in the industry.
Broadcast journalist and Coordinating Director of Public Affairs at Parliament, Kate Donkor, has spoken candidly about the distractions women face in the media industry.
“One of the things we spend our time on is how we should look… and dealing with bullying,” she said, emphasizing the need for women to focus on more important issues.
“I don’t care what you think about how I look… I’m interested in equity. I’m interested in whether I’m getting what I deserve,” Donkor stated.
Reflecting on her own career, she admitted there were moments she would approach differently.
“I would have listened less and acted more,” she said, while acknowledging that the media has also opened doors for her, providing visibility and opportunities.
Nana Yaa Konadu Yiadom, patron of the Network of Women in Broadcasting, shared a similar perspective. While she admits to a few regrets, she says her career has been fulfilling.
“I don’t, in totality, regret being in this space. It has allowed me to network effectively and do what I love most,” Yiadom said, adding that she would choose the same career path again.
Thelma Tackie, broadcast journalist and Senior Editor at GBC News, offered a personal lesson from her journey.
“My biggest regret is not finding my voice sooner… realizing that I can say no. No is also an answer, and using that voice is important. If you haven’t discovered it yet, you’re losing out,” she said.
“There’s still a long way for me to travel, and I look forward to learning as much as I can until there’s nothing more to learn. That will be the point when I’m there,” Tackie added.