TV personality and News Editor at GH One Television, Nana Aba Anamoah has accused male editors in the various newsrooms across the country as the cause of inadequate female Sports Journalists in the sector.
According to the experienced broadcaster, derogatory remarks passed by some male editors about relationships between male sports stars and female sports journalists leaves much to be desired.
Speaking at the maiden edition of the Africa Women’s Sports Summit held at the Swiss Spirit Alisa Hotel in Accra on Wednesday, Nana Aba Anamoah stated that, ‘’most of the times, when female journalists go and conduct an interview with some sports stars, after the news is out the first comment that comes out is that I’m sure ‘it went down’ after the interview or before the interview’’ she said.
The celebrated TV personality questioned why that should always happen to the female journalist and why similar things are not said about male sports journalists. Nana Aba who said she faced similar challenges at the start of her career, urged the ladies to push hard and take their place in the sports fraternity and not let anyone or anything be a hindrance to them. ’
’As women, you need not to just take it on the chin, you need to stand up for yourself and let people know that they have to be professional in whatever they do.’’ She added.
” Prior to the 1st session of the event, videos were played from some sports editors across the world and almost all of them stated that they keep on wondering why we don’t have a lot of females practising journalism and I am putting it to them that they are the problem”. Her comment drew wild applause from the audience.
The Africa Women’s Sports Summit is an initiative of one of Africa’s influential sports journalists, Juliet Bawuah and is aimed at empowering young and aspiring female sports journalists to believe in themselves and their abilities.
Other distinguished journalists who addressed the over 60 participants at the event venue were, SuperSport and Premier League TV host Carol Tshabalala, Ugandan Sports Journalist, Usher Komugisha, Sports Journalist and legal practitioner, Eva Okyere, and former C.O. E of Airtel Ghana and a former member of the Normalisation Committee, Lucy Quist.
