Ghana’s Vice President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has called upon journalists to maintain credibility and professionalism in their reporting, especially concerning gender-related matters.
She made this appeal during the Annual National Forum on Women in Government and Media, which took place in Accra on February 19.
The forum aimed to enhance collaboration between women in leadership roles and their media counterparts, gathering women Members of Parliament, female ministers of state, and women from the media.
In her speech, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stressed that coverage of women should extend beyond mere appearances and other superficial aspects.
She encouraged journalists to prioritize competence and substance over sensational headlines and clickbait narratives.
She pointed out that trivial and biased reporting perpetuates gender inequality and diminishes the contributions of women to national progress.
“When gender issues are simplified to clickbait, the public is deprived of a comprehensive understanding. When narratives about women concentrate solely on superficial matters, such as appearance, while neglecting our intellect, skills, and achievements, the opportunities for women in public life become severely limited, and at times, insignificant. We must reject being belittled.
“We must stand firm against intimidation. We must resist being molded into others’ perceptions. We must believe in ourselves. We must not allow anyone to undermine us simply because we are women. We take pride in our identity as women.
“Women journalists and editors bear a unique responsibility, not due to any moral superiority, but because their involvement alters perspectives. When you are in editorial positions, you have the ability to question narratives. You can challenge preconceived notions. And you can demand depth in reporting. There is also an educational aspect to this role,” she stated.
