A report by Lis Howell
The Women Experts in Ghana Conference was held on March 5th 2025 at the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel in Accra.
Over 60 media professionals, 75% of whom were women came together to discuss survey research findings which showed that men experts outnumbered women experts on a selection of Ghana media shows by 6 men to every woman.
The event was hosted and presented by Betty Kankam-Boadu, co-founder of the Ghana Expert Women Project, who took us seamlessly between sessions, and who skilfully managed the agenda to ensure that all the participants had their say in what was a very lively and sometimes contentious discussion.
Most sessions stimulated passionate contributions and over-ran, and there was great debate from the floor
The morning began with a speech delivered on behalf of Nana Agyemang Asante, who with Betty was co-founder of the Women Expert, Ghana project but who iwas working on a project in South America. Nana itemised how the research revealed the unfairness to women on air in Ghana, and how it proved that more had to be done.
Betty then took us through a summary of the key findings:
- Women were under-represented across all media houses, with an average of only 15% female interviewees.
- Only 15% of the experts interviewed were women, with the highest under-representation at TV3 (3%) and Peace FM (8%).
- Women comprised just 24% of presenters, with GTV being the only media house where female presenters outnumbered males (60%).
- Men received more airtime overall, though some media houses like Citi FM showed slight equity, with women receiving comparable or more time per interviewee.
Journalist, Media Expert
and Podcaster
It was noticeable that Ghana Broadcasting Company was the best media house monitored and their more acceptable ratio (7 make experts to 3 women experts) meant a better result overall than in 2021, when GBC wasn’t included in the monitoring. It also showed what could be achieved.
After Betty Kankam Boadu took us through the findings, in her inspritional keynote speech Professor Audrey Gadzekpo said “There is no more room for all male panels in this day and age” and noted that the representation of women in Ghanaian media was abysmal even in stations run by women!
She urged the private media houses to apply the Affirmative Action initiative calling for women to account for 50% of the representation of leaders in public life, insisting this had to be applied to private business as well. Professor Gazekpo’s speech was reported by several media houses including GBC and MyJoyOnline.
Professor Gadzekpo Encourages Media to Proactively Elevate Women’s Voices and Expertise.
Professor Gadzekpo Urges Media to Close Gender Gap
This was followed by a high profile panel, monitored by Kinna Likimani, featuring former PPP running mate Bridget Dzogbenuku, legal practitioner Clara Kasser-Tee, actress Lydia Forson, and politician Janet Nabla, who talked frankly about their own difficulties when asked to appear on TV and radio shows. They discussed the way women were trolled and crtiticised, women’s lack of confidence and the limits of the Affirmative Action initiative.
After a quick presentation about the similar experiences in the UK, by Professors Suzanne Franks and Lis Howell, founders of the UK’ Expert Women Project, the second high profile discussion moved the issue to those responsible for the problem, the editors and producers.
Martha Crentsil Acquah and Gloria Anderson of GBC
The monitor of the session, Professor Abena Aninwaa Yeborah Banin remarked that, following the presentation from Professor Franks and Howell, the gender imbalance in media was not just a Ghana problem but an international problem. Women globally were undervalued and under-represented in media.
Gloria Anderson of GBC acknowledged that they tried hard and hard schieved success with putting women on air. Importantly, Alfred Ocansey of Media General (TV3), and Martha Crentsil Acquah of Multimedia Group (Joy FM) acknowledged unfairness in their own output. Both assured the delegates that they would work to improve female representation.
“We take this research seriously, and we recognise the need for more women’s voices on our shows,” Ocansey noted.
In the Q&A session Professor Gazekpo led a forceful debate with male producers who had treated her a token woman in the past, particularly on the subject of LGBT+ issues in Ghana. Her courage and tenacity were applauded unanimously.
The event closed at 1pm with lunch. Betty Kankam- Boadu was warmly congratulated.
Thanks go to Ato Kwamen Dadzie of Reseau Afrique for faciitating and producing the conference.
The conference was funded by the British Academy
