News
Media organisations told to create female-friendly workplaces
- /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/A-section-of-the-panellist-at-the-forum-1000x600.jpg&description= Media organisations told to create female-friendly workplaces', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/A-section-of-the-panellist-at-the-forum-1000x600.jpg&description= Media organisations told to create female-friendly workplaces', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
A section of the panellist at the forum
Media organisations have been urged to create supportive workplace environments sensitive to specific needs of female journalists.
According to the Executive Director of Women and Change (WOMEC), Dr Charity Binka, women have been marginalised in the media space for too long, adding that women make up only 25 per cent of news and 30 per cent of leadership roles in the media industry.
Dr Binka made this recommendation in a presentation on “Equal Voices- Promoting gender equality in media in Ghana” at the Media and Women Empowerment Forum held at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) last Wednesday.
The conference which was organised by Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in partnership with the French Media Development Agency was to combat gender inequalities while promoting women at all levels of responsibility in the country.
“There’s no focus on women in the media and most of the organisations do not have policies on gender and gender-based abuse,” she said.
Furthermore, Dr Binka noted that media houses who have guidelines on gender must develop them into policies and the ones who have existing policies must ensure that these policies were enforced.
“Journalism training schools should incorporate gender into their curriculum and where they lack capacity, they should collaborate with gender experts,” she added.
The Head of Department of Communications Studies, University of Ghana, Prof. Abena Animwaa Yeboah-Banin, emphasised the need for media organisation to adopt female friendly workplace practices, adding that there was evidence of masculine work practices and socialisation which makes it difficult for women to fit in.
She called for women participation in decisions making especially in matters that affects women or related to them.
“Women are not sitting at the table where decisions that affect them are made; there is low inequality consciousness. Sometimes, women who are being discriminated against do not know about it themselves,” she noted.
On her part, the Deputy Director, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ms Vera Karikari, said the media was a powerful tool that could reinforce stereotypes or drive empowerment that can bring change.
Other speakers included the Programmes Officer, Media for Democracy and Good Governance, MFWA, Mr William Nianjerbor Jalulah; a lecturer at UniMAC-IJ, Mrs Ewuradwoa S. Tabicca, and Head of Social and Development Desk, Despite Media, Ms Nana Yaa Konadu Yiadom.
By Cecilia Lagba Yada
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has taken note of public allegations of extortion and related conduct made against the Minority Leader of Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
The allegations were made by the Chief Executive of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi.
In a brief statement, the OSP said it has also received a joint petition submitted by two persons, as well as two separate petitions from other persons, in relation to the same allegations.
“Given the nature of the allegations, the OSP will assess the case and determine whether it falls within its statutory mandate and whether further investigative action is warranted,” the statement said.
The development comes amid a heated public feud between the Minority in Parliament and the leadership of GoldBod over the operations of the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.
The Minority, led by Afenyo-Markin, has accused GoldBod and the Bank of Ghana of causing a loss of over $1.7 billion, citing the International Monetary Fund’s August 2026 report. The Minority has vowed to pursue the matter as Parliament has reconvened for an emergency sitting.
GoldBod, on the other hand, has rejected claims by some NPP MPs, including Tano South MP Dr Gideon Boako, that it owes the Bank of Ghana GH¢1 billion in overdrafts, describing the claim as “false and malicious.”
In the latest twist, GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi has accused the Minority Leader of extortion and related conduct, an allegation that has triggered petitions to the OSP.
The OSP is mandated under Act 959 to investigate and prosecute specific cases of alleged or suspected corruption and corruption-related offences involving public officers and politically exposed persons.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, has filed his nomination to contest the position of General Secretary again as the party begins its rebuilding efforts ahead of the 2028 general elections.
He was accompanied by party stalwarts and supporters who were in high spirits, expressing confidence that he is the right person to hold the position.
Speaking after filing his nomination, Mr Kodua Frimpong assured the rank and file of the party that he would not disappoint them.
“I can assure you that the faith the rank and file of the party have had in me, I will never disappoint them,” he said.
He also pledged to run a clean campaign devoid of personal attacks.
“I can assure you that our internal campaign will be devoid of personal attacks,” he told his fellow contestants and the rank and file of the party as he seeks to retain his position.
His tenure has seen the party through the 2024 general elections, where the NPP lost power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) after eight years in government.
The party is currently in a rebuilding phase, with internal elections scheduled to elect new national executives to lead its reorganization towards the 2028 polls.
The General Secretary position is considered one of the most influential in the party’s administrative structure, responsible for the day-to-day running of the party secretariat and implementation of party decisions.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
