Media Representation of Women Parliamentary Candidates in Africa A Study of the Daily Graphic Newspaper and Ghana’s 2016 Election

Abstract

Women’s movements, sometimes with the support of international organizations and aided by a favorable political opportunity structure, have placed women’s political representation on the agenda in many African countries (Bauer 2014; Bauer et al. 2017; Kang 2015). This has resulted in countries’ adoption of gender quotas and has also led to the implementation of programs aimed at encouraging women’s political participation. In Ghana and elsewhere, some of these efforts to increase women’s political representation have targeted the media; civil society organizations (CSOs) have trained the media on how to cover women candidates. As the Media Foundation for West Africa (2019: 11) writes, these efforts have occurred in Ghana where, “Undoubtedly several media houses and journalists have participated and received training by organizations such as UNESCO, CSOs and other development organizations on gender-sensitive reportage.” In turn, they have used “their platforms to increase women’s voices and participation in governance.” For example, “the Daily Graphic—has consistently provided a column in its newspaper to address gender and related issues while providing the platform for women’s increased participation in governance processes.” Given the media’s central role in elections (Temin and Smith 2002), such media training, including on how to cover women politicians, is essential.