President of the Centre for Social policy Studies (CSPS) at the University of Ghana, Prof. Abena Oduro says the media’s influence on the electorate is essential to women’s entry into politics.

She said the media needs to give women a fair coverage if their political ambitions are going to be successful.

Speaking at a forum organized by the Progressive Organisation for Women Advancement, Prof Oduro said “the media has a critical role to play in facilitating women’s entry into politics. The media informs the views and perspectives of the electorate and thereby can influence the electorate’s decision on who to vote for… A study conducted some years ago in Ghana found that women were underrepresented in media coverage”.

She added that the discussions of how women are underrepresented in politics cannot go without asking some silent questions.

According to her, “when women are reported on in the media, how are they represented? Which traits of women vying for leadership positions are portrayed? Are the traits that are portrayed those which will increase their chances of being selected by the electorate? When they are in leadership positions are women’s achievements highlighted and discussed?”.

She stressed that until such questions are answered the fight to get more women into politics will continue to be a struggle.

The forum which is the second organized by POWA to discuss women’s participation in politics was on the theme, “How has the media impacted on the participation of Ghanaian women in politics?”

A host of personalities from diverse backgrounds in media, politics, gender and academia, took turns to discuss the challenges that negate women’s inclusiveness in politics, whiles also highlighting some actions of the media which tend to discourage women from being actively involved in politics.