The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), in partnership with Canal France International (CFI), has introduced a Strategy Document designed to advance gender equality within the media sector in Ghana.
This document is a vital element of the “Equal Voices Promoting Gender Equality in the Media” initiative, which aims to address gender disparities and stereotypes while enhancing the representation of women in media leadership roles across Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
Featuring practical recommendations, the strategy document delineates actions to elevate female leadership in the media, attain gender balance in content, cultivate gender-sensitive work environments, and bolster advocacy for gender equality.
The creation of this document was guided by comprehensive baseline research and strategic discussions with key stakeholders in the Ghanaian media, which revealed obstacles such as gaps in leadership, biased content, workplace issues, fragmented advocacy efforts, and the bystander effect.
During the launch event, Dr. Audrey Gadzekpo from the Department of Communication at the University of Ghana praised the initiative as an ambitious yet essential move towards transformative change in the media landscape. She noted that the document is timely, coinciding with a pivotal moment in the global gender equality movement, which has seen both advancements and challenges in recent years.
Referencing an international report, she highlighted that it could take as long as 67 years to close the gender gap in traditional media, emphasizing the critical need to act on the recommendations outlined in the strategy document.
Marine Hayem, Cooperation Attaché at the French Embassy, remarked that the strategy document marks a significant achievement in the media sector and is in line with Ghana’s affirmative action policies.
Dr. Charity Binka, Executive Director of Women, Media, and Change (WOMEC) and an independent expert moderator of the strategic dialogues affirmed that the document is grounded in the realities of local media while also aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
She urged media organizations to embrace the strategic document and establish progressive frameworks aimed at enhancing women’s leadership by 2030, in accordance with the Affirmative Action and Gender Equity Law.
Inspired by international best practices, the document acts as a guide for converting commitments into tangible actions, representing a crucial advancement toward gender inclusivity within Ghana’s media sector.
