‘No more manels’ - Professor Gadzekpo urges media to close gender gap

“There is no room for all-male panels in this day and age,” says Professor Audrey Gadzekpo of the University of Ghana’s School of Communication Studies.

Addressing a diverse audience of journalists, media executives, and advocacy groups at the Ghana Women Experts in Media Conference in Accra, Professor Gadzekpo lamented the persistent shortage of women’s voices in Ghana’s mainstream media, describing the trend as “abysmal.”

She cited examples of news discussions where women’s perspectives are either absent or dismissed, particularly on topics that directly affect them.

“Women are consistently absent from these spaces, sending a message that their expertise is less valuable,” Prof. Gadzekpo said.

She questioned claims that digital and social media offer a complete solution to this imbalance, warning that these platforms can be hostile environments for women, marked by “harassment, trolling, and doxxing.”

She reiterated the critical role that “traditional media plays in shaping public opinion,” noting it remains the primary source of information for many Ghanaians due to limited internet access in some regions.

Referring to the Ghana Women Experts in Media report for 2024, Professor Gadzekpo said, “Women’s representation in media as correspondents, presenters, or experts is generally abysmal, even in stations headed by women.”

While she acknowledged the passing of Ghana’s affirmative action law aimed at 50% female representation in public service by 2030, she emphasized that private media houses also need to commit to similar targets.

“This will not happen without conscious commitment. We must move beyond lip service to achieve meaningful, lasting change.”



The Women Experts in Media report on women’s representation in Ghana’s media revealed that only 14% of experts interviewed in 2024 were women, with some media houses recording as low as 3% female expert representation.

It also indicated that women make up just 24% of presenters, and that male presenters continue to receive significantly more airtime than their female counterparts.

The report was put together by the Ghana Women Experts project with support from the British Academy and City St George’s University of London.