THE first annual national forum on women in government and Media was held in Accra on Friday, bringing together women leaders from government, the media, and the corporate world to discuss visibility, leadership and national development.

The Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, addressed participants and stressed that every woman is a leader in her own right. She said women must take their leadership roles seriously and not allow themselves to be belittled or intimidated.

She noted that the theme of visibility was important but added that visibility alone was not the goal.

“Influence is the goal,” she said. “And influence without standards can be risky.”

According to her, the media played a powerful role in shaping how society understands leadership, competence and credibility. “Those who tell stories,” she explained, “do more than report events. They help determine what the public sees as urgent or trivial.”

She said women in the media hold a strategic position because they help shape public debate. “They decide whether discussions are based on evidence or driven by outrage. She urged women journalists and editors to report with context and avoid sensationalism,” she said.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang noted that women in leadership often face extra scrutiny and pressure. Despite this, she said, women must continue to shape national direction in Cabinet, Parliament, boardrooms, newsrooms and communities across the country. She emphasised that visibility must go with credibility and public trust.

The Chief of Staff, Mr Julius Debrah, urged participants to use the forum to network and collaborate. He shared his experience as a former Minister for Local Government, saying he often invited members of the media to review his initiatives before implementation.

“I would ask them to play the devil’s advocate and tell me what would work and what would not,” he said. He noted that involving the media early helped reduce criticism and improved policy outcomes.

The Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration), Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, said the forum was not just ceremonial but a purposeful conversation about the role of women in shaping governance and national narratives.