Bank of Ghana Governor Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama says professional journalism remains vital in helping citizens navigate an increasingly complex information landscape.
Speaking at the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) awards ceremony on Saturday, November 7, Dr Asiama said technological advances had changed how information was produced, shared and consumed around the world.
Digital platforms had opened up unprecedented opportunities for people to participate in public discussions and circulate information, he said. However, they had also increased the spread of misinformation, disinformation, online abuse, misleading data and hate speech.
Dr Asiama described professional journalism as “society’s compass”, saying it enabled the public to distinguish facts from falsehood, evidence from speculation and informed analysis from sensationalism.
“As guardians of public discourse, journalists are essential for building social unity, encouraging well-informed discussions, and safeguarding democratic principles,” he said.
He also highlighted the media’s role in helping the Bank of Ghana explain economic and financial matters to the public.
Monetary policy decisions, inflation trends, financial sector reforms, exchange rate movements and digital financial innovations could be difficult subjects to understand, Dr Asiama said.
He added that accurate, balanced and insightful reporting was necessary to turn those issues into information that citizens could understand and use.
“It is therefore fitting that the Bank of Ghana continues to support initiatives that recognise excellence in economic and financial reporting. One of the most important responsibilities of central banks today is communication,” he said.
Dr Asiama said central bank policies were more effective when they were clearly understood by the public. He added that transparency, credibility and accountability depended on open and effective engagement with all stakeholders, including the media.
The governor said Ghanaian journalists had shown growing expertise in reporting on business, finance and economic policy.
He said investigative reports, analytical features, broadcast discussions and digital storytelling had helped broaden public understanding of matters affecting people’s livelihoods and the country’s prosperity.
“Through investigative reporting, analytical features, broadcast discussions, and digital storytelling, members of the media have expanded public understanding of issues that directly affect livelihoods and national prosperity,” he said.
