Former Afigya Kwabre South Constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, widely known as COKA, has emphasised the significance of empowering women in the media, calling for stronger representation and inclusivity.
Speaking at his maiden engagement with selected female journalists, show hosts, producers, and editors in the Ashanti Region on Saturday, August 30, COKA emphasised that women’s voices are critical to shaping balanced national conversations.
“The voices of women in the media must not only be heard but also be empowered, because when women are included, the conversation on peace and development becomes richer and more balanced,” he said.
COKA stressed that women play a climacteric role in national development, noting that this conviction influenced his deliberate efforts to increase female participation in leadership and decision-making during his tenure as the Afigya Kwabre South Constituency Chairman.
The engagement also featured Ms. Beatrice Spio-Gabarah, the newly elected Ashanti Regional Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).
Discussions centred on the need to acknowledge and elevate the contributions of female journalists, who, according to COKA, are often sidelined in favour of their male counterparts during political interactions.
He described the meeting as timely and inspiring, adding that it served to remind women in the profession that their work is both valued and paramount.
COKA also encouraged female journalists who are not yet members of the GJA to consider joining, stressing that professional associations provide recognition, career support, and protection.
COKA reiterated his belief that empowering women will not only enrich the profession but also contribute significantly to peacebuilding and national development.
Source: Oyerepafmonline.com / Joseph Marfo
