The Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Berenice Owen-Jones, has underscored the importance of women’s voices in journalism.
Delivering her remarks at the HerPress Summit, which also doubled as the graduation ceremony of 20 female journalists from the HerPress Fellowship, she highlighted the challenges women journalists face globally.
These challenges, she noted, include underrepresentation, online harassment, limited access to leadership roles, and the need for international solidarity to address them.
“This is not just a Ghanaian conversation, it’s a global one. But we’re also seeing female journalists succeed, support each other, and change the face of journalism,” she said.
“Women bring perspectives, experiences and truths that broaden our understanding of the world. And when women do well in journalism, societies become more inclusive, more accountable and more just,” Mrs Owen-Jones added.
She stressed that initiatives like HerPress matter not only for the professional development of individual journalists but also for the democratic health of society at large.
The HerPress Fellowship, launched earlier this year by the Dikan Center, aims to nurture a new generation of female journalists through mentorship, safety training and skills-building workshops. The programme also encourages solidarity and leadership among women in the newsroom.
The initiative recognises that many of the most powerful untold stories in Ghana, particularly those affecting women, children and marginalised communities, are best told by women who understand those lived experiences.
“Today, seeing you gathered here, I know that you’re embarking on what I’m sure will be a remarkable career. You’ve been equipped not just with technical skills, but with the confidence to lead and the resilience to thrive,” the Australian high commissioner told the fellows.
Mrs Owen-Jones also paid tribute to pioneering women in Ghanaian media, including Gifty Afenyi Dadzie, the first woman to lead the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), whose legacy continues to inspire younger generations.
Additionally, she encouraged the fellows to draw inspiration from Godwin Asediba of Media General for winning the prestigious BBC Komla Dumor Award 2025, and to carry forward the belief that their voices matter in shaping both national and continental narratives.
She commended the founder of Dikan Center, Paul Ninson, and his team for establishing and sustaining the HerPress Initiative.
“You’ve not only provided training. You’ve created a platform for transformation, one where women journalists can flourish, and where Ghana can continue to shape the future of African media,” she said.
Among the notable guests at the event were Gabrielle Gretner, an Australian journalist and CNN producer based in the United States; Efua Ghartey, President of the Ghana Bar Association; Genevieve Partington, Country Director of Amnesty International; Portia Gabor; and Israel Laryea.
