Professional Journalism is Society's Compass in Fight Against Digital Misinformation – BoG Governor Asiama

Bank of Ghana Governor Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama has described professional journalism as “society's compass,” saying it remains essential in helping citizens navigate the growing challenges of the digital age.

Speaking at the 30th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards in Accra on Saturday, November 7, 2026, Dr Asiama said technological advancements had transformed how information is created, distributed and consumed, presenting both opportunities and challenges for society .

“Although digital platforms have created unprecedented opportunities for citizens to get involved and share information, they have also brought significant challenges, including misinformation, disinformation, online abuse, misleading data and hate speech,” he said .

Facts from Falsehood

The Governor said professional journalism plays a critical role in helping citizens 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 stated .

Dr Asiama also highlighted the media's role in making complex economic and financial issues accessible to the public, citing monetary policy decisions, inflation trends, financial sector reforms, exchange rate movements and digital financial innovations as issues that require accurate and balanced reporting to help citizens understand developments affecting their lives. He said effective journalism translates such technical subjects into information that the public can understand and use.

A Central Bank's Stake in Accurate Reporting

The Governor's remarks reflect the Bank of Ghana's long-standing interest in how economic and financial news is reported. In August 2025, the Bank issued a statement urging media practitioners to verify financial information with the regulator before publication, citing a “striking increase in misinformation and disinformation, largely propagated through social media” that could trigger “unwarranted anxiety, panic withdrawals, and a loss of confidence in the financial system” .

Dr Asiama's comments at the awards ceremony suggest a continuation of that approach: engaging the media as a partner in financial stability rather than simply as a conduit for information.

The Bank of Ghana has also pledged to continue supporting initiatives that recognise excellence in economic and financial reporting, a commitment reflected in the Bank of Ghana Governor's Economic and Financial Story of the Year award, which was presented at the ceremony to GBC's Esther Aidoo .

The Awards and Its Theme

The 30th GJA Media Awards were held under the theme, “Celebrating Excellence, Advancing Media Freedom and Combating Hate Speech in the Digital Age” . The theme highlights the need to protect press freedom while promoting responsible journalism in an increasingly digital information environment.

The ceremony, held at the Palms Convention Centre of the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra, brought together journalists, media organisations and stakeholders to recognise excellence in the profession. Asempa FM's Philip Osei Bonsu, popularly known as O.B., was named the 2026 GJA Journalist of the Year, the Association's highest individual honour .

A Broader Conversation

Dr Asiama's address was one of several high-profile interventions at the ceremony, which served as a platform for discussions on media freedom, journalist safety and the challenges of the digital age. Minister of State for Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu, speaking on behalf of the President, drew a distinction between criminal threats and legitimate free expression, while the GJA President, Albert Dwumfour, disclosed that the Association had recorded more than 50 attacks and threats against journalists since 2022 and announced the Speaker of Parliament's backing for a private member's bill on journalists' conditions of service .

Against that backdrop, Dr Asiama's framing of journalism as “society's compass” positioned the media as an indispensable partner in economic governance and democratic stability—an institution whose independence and professionalism, he suggested, are too important to be left to the distortions of the digital age.