The Director of Communications at the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Mr Bernard Otabil, has cautioned journalists and the media against treating the Central Bank’s stories with propaganda spins.
He said such practices kill investor confidence and also have serious implications for the economy.
Mr Otabil gave the caution at a two-day training workshop organised by the BoG for journalists in the Western and Western North regions in Tarkoradi.
The training which ended last Wednesday was part of the bank’s efforts at ensuring that the media accurately interpreted and reported on economic issues, monetary policy decisions and their implications.
Mr Otabil indicated that due to technology advancement, information and stories travelled with so much speed, but, added that, attempts to influence BoG stories by spin doctoring would have a huge implications for the economy and Ghana’s investment drive.
He said, there were a lot of spin doctors ‘crowding’ the media space, but urged participants, to count the Central Bank out in such narratives, stating “don’t do propaganda spin when it comes to the Bank of Ghana.”
That BoG, he explained, played a pivotal part in economic management and that, any negative story would have a multiplying effect across the economic value chain including Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), Cedi stability, remittances, fuel prices and incomes.
“As journalists, you have a collective responsibility to do accurate reporting. Don’t assume. Work with precision- report with clarity and accuracy. Central Banking is a serious business. Write about the realities of the Central Bank and collectively we build a better Ghana and improve the standard of living for all of us,” Mr Otabil reiterated.
He added that, the training programmes, which would be rolled across the country, was to enhance the journalist’s ability to craft compelling narratives about the policies and objectives of the Bank, especially as far as monetary policy is concerned.
Again, the training is part of efforts towards improving strategic partnerships and relationships with the media, he stated, saying that, the journalists would help enhance BoG policy communication.
Mr Otabil stressed “Communication remains critical to enhancing the Bank’s policies, therefore, with the approval of management, the Communications Department consistently creates platforms to improve strategic media partnerships.
The Regional Manager of BoG in the Western Region, Rev. Kofi Assan, also underscored the media and the public as critical stakeholders.
The Western Region Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Desmond Cudjoe, lauded the BoG for the training programme, which he said, would equip journalists with the knowledge and skills to understand, analyse and accurately report on issues related to finance.
FROM CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE, TAKORADI
