The Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA), in partnership with MTN Ghana, held a conference to mark International Women’s Day, urging stronger support systems to empower women across 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 challenges women face and explore strategies for overcoming them.
International Women’s Day is celebrated globally to recognize women’s achievements in social, economic, cultural, and political spheres while pushing for accelerated gender equality.
Opening the conference, AWMA Convener Mercy Catherine Adjabeng stressed the importance of celebrating women beyond just a single day.
“Interestingly, the whole month of March is dedicated to women. International Women’s Day is one day, but we should take every opportunity to celebrate women,” she said, praising MTN Ghana for its support.
“Women really rock, and this event is proof of what they can achieve. When women are involved in decision-making, the outcomes are more inclusive,” Adjabeng added.
Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, Acting General Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Ghana, highlighted the need for deliberate efforts to increase female participation in media.
“Through our engagements across media organizations in Ghana, I’ve observed that women’s representation remains low,” she said.
Despite MTN’s extensive work with media outlets nationwide, women make up less than 10% of participants in some areas. “Out of about 100 people on our platform, I can barely count 15 women… maybe just 10,” Fiagbenu revealed.
She emphasized that empowering women goes beyond on-air roles. “Women need to be present in all critical discussions, not just in frontline media,” she said, citing initiatives such as scholarships and digital skills programs that prioritize women.
“Everyone is blogging and creating 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 framed the discussion in both a global and national context, highlighting persistent inequalities despite progress.
“Globally, women hold only 64% of the legal rights enjoyed by men, while Ghana stands at 75%. Our score is higher than the global average, but gaps remain, and we must work to close them,” she said.
Professor Gadzekpo also addressed gender-based violence, citing studies that show 28% to over 41% of women in Ghana have experienced intimate partner violence.
Within the media industry, she noted that women are still underrepresented in leadership and decision-making roles. Only about 35% of the media workforce are women, with just 20% in leadership positions. Income disparities, sexual harassment, and poor working conditions remain major challenges.
“In political reporting, investigative journalism, and editorial decision-making, women are even further marginalised,” Gadzekpo said, citing barriers including online harassment, cultural norms, and institutional bias.
“In 2023, nearly 70% of female journalists in Ghana faced online abuse, which often silences women and leads to self-censorship,” she warned.
Gadzekpo urged women to move beyond visibility to influence. “Presence without power is mere decoration. We must move from representation to influence,” she stressed.
On resilience, she encouraged women not to endure injustice silently. “Resilience is not just endurance… it’s deliberately using the resources we need to keep telling the truth when the world wants us to stop,” she said.
She also called for stronger mentorship and collaboration among women. “We must be intentional about mentorship and pave roads for others to walk on boldly,” she added.
Gadzekpo further encouraged women to take control of digital platforms. “Where are our blogs? We can shape our narratives and build our own platforms,” she said.
She concluded by emphasizing collective responsibility, urging 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 insights and reflected on their careers.
Broadcast journalist and now Coordinating Director of Public Affairs at Parliament, Kate Donkor, has highlighted 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, urging 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 added.
Reflecting on her career, she admitted there were things she might have approached differently.
“I would have listened less and acted more,” she said, while acknowledging that the media has also opened doors, providing visibility and opportunities.
Nana Yaa Konadu Yiadom, patron of the Network of Women in Broadcasting, echoed a sense of fulfillment despite a few regrets.
“I don’t, in totality, regret being in this space. It has allowed me to network well and do what I love most,” she said, adding that she would choose the same career path again.
Thelma Tackie, broadcast journalist and Senior Editor at GBC News, shared 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 you should use that voice. If you haven’t, 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.