Prominent academic and media scholar Professor Audrey Gadzekpo has launched a sharp critique of Ghana’s media landscape, accusing journalists of handling LGBTQ+ issues in a way that she says undermines professionalism, balance, and ethical reporting.
Her comments have sparked fresh debate across the country, with the professor warning that coverage of LGBTQ+ topics in Ghana is often driven more by emotion, sensationalism, and political pressure than by informed analysis or journalistic responsibility.
According to her assessment, sections of the media have failed to maintain critical distance, instead amplifying narratives that deepen division rather than encourage constructive national conversation. She argued that this trend risks distorting public understanding of complex human rights and social issues.
The remarks have immediately triggered reactions from media practitioners, activists, and commentators. Some have agreed with her call for higher editorial standards and more nuanced reporting, while others argue that the media is operating under intense public and political scrutiny that shapes how such sensitive topics are covered.
The issue of LGBTQ+ rights remains highly controversial in Ghana, and media coverage has often sat at the centre of national debate, drawing criticism from multiple sides over tone, framing, and language used in reporting.
Professor Gadzekpo’s intervention adds new fuel to an already heated conversation — one that continues to raise questions about press freedom, responsibility, and how far media houses should go in shaping public discourse on deeply polarising issues.
As the debate grows louder, her comments are likely to keep reverberating through newsrooms and opinion circles in the days ahead.
