Behind the headlines: Ghana’s women in media fight for equality

Years ago, as a young female journalist in Accra, I experienced an injustice that left me reeling. I’d been working late in the editing suite, exhausted but determined to complete my reportage. Yet, when my turn finally came, a male colleague’s work was prioritized by the editor, simply because they were friends. Frustrated and unwilling to remain silent, I spoke up. What ensued was a heated argument—words flew, tensions soared. But in the end, only I was summoned to the office and reprimanded, while my male colleagues walked away unscathed.

“How is it,” I wondered, “that women are always told to remain calm, while men can act freely without consequence?” The bitter irony is that our newsrooms, which fight for public justice, often fail to uphold fairness within their own walls. I knew then that my story was not unique; countless women in Ghana’s media industry experience the same bias, silenced by the unspoken rules that govern so many of our workplaces.

Unequal pay, unheard voices

The inequalities didn’t stop at favoritism. As I advanced in my career, I realized there was a silent but wide salary gap between men and women in Ghana’s media industry. How can we, who champion the causes of others, overlook the inequalities in our own organizations? Recent research by Professor Abena Animwaa Yeboah-Banin from the University of Ghana, Department of Communication Studies, unveiled a staggering truth. In her study, “Empowering Women in Ghanaian Media: Progress, Trends, Challenges, and Prospects,” 43% of women interviewed were unsure about equal pay in the industry, while only 42% believed it existed. This leaves a significant portion who see, but cannot challenge, the discrepancies.

“Compared to their male colleagues, women in media are paid less,” Professor Yeboah-Banin explained. “They have less access to promotions or opportunities. If you start your career today alongside a male colleague, chances are that in 10 years, he will be in a position to support you.” Her words remained foremost in my thoughts. In a profession where connections can weigh as heavily as merit, women often find themselves at a disadvantage, their potential capped by invisible ceilings.

“When a woman rises, she lifts her family, her community, and her country. But when she is pushed down, the whole society feels the weight,” says an old Ghanaian proverb. In this context, it’s not just individual careers at stake—it’s the collective future of Ghana’s media landscape and the voices we might never hear if women continue to be held back.

Advancing SDG 5: Gender equality

The silent suffering of women in Ghana’s media has now reached the ears of advocates and activists. In response to these challenges, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) recently hosted a high-level conference in Accra to address gender inequality in the industry as part of the global commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5): achieving gender equality. Among the voices calling for change was Dr. Charity Binka, Executive Director of WOMEC, an NGO promoting women’s empowerment in media.

Dr. Binka shared a crucial recommendation for media organizations, urging them to implement and uphold policies against sexual harassment and gender-based violence. “We came up with the recommendation that all media organizations should have clear policies addressing sexual harassment and gender-based violence,” she said. “We should develop and implement inclusive anti-harassment policies, not just hold follow-up meetings but actually ensure that they are enforced, because sometimes policies are drafted and then left on the books. Or, maybe, no single person is responsible for ensuring compliance. Once you enter that space, you must know what you should do and what constitutes sexual harassment.”

As Dr. Binka spoke, I thought, How many women have left their dreams behind because they were silenced, humiliated, or held back by an unfair system? What might their contributions have added to the stories we tell? We cannot afford to ignore these questions.

Equal voices, equal opportunities

The call for gender equality in Ghana’s media is not new, but the stakes have never been higher. The media shapes minds, influences policies, and reflects society. So, what does it say about us if we tolerate, or even perpetuate, injustice within our own ranks?

In pursuit of SDG 5, Ghana’s media industry faces a moral reckoning. True equality cannot exist if women’s contributions are undervalued or ignored. An old Ghanaian saying goes, “The stick that beats the cat also beats the dog,” meaning injustice, if tolerated in one place, will spread. The road to equality isn’t only about setting policies on paper; it’s about breathing life into those words, ensuring they’re practiced and upheld, day in and day out.

How do we move forward? It starts with building inclusive spaces where every journalist, regardless of gender, can thrive and contribute. The stories we tell shape the future we build. For a just and balanced society, let us start by championing gender equality, not only in the stories we report but within the walls of the newsrooms we work in. As we move forward, Ghana’s media must lead by example, taking SDG 5 not just as an ideal but as an achievable goal—one story, one policy, and one act of courage at a time.

By Afia Agyapomaa Ofosu

 

The writer is a journalist.

E-mail: [email protected]