The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has underscored the critical role of ethical and accurate financial journalism in protecting the economic stability amid a surging threat of digital misinformation and coordinated disinformation campaigns.
Speaking at the opening of a three-day training workshop organized for the BoG Press Corps, Mr. Bernard Otabil, Director of Communications at the central bank, warned that fake news, deepfakes, and AI-generated market rumors pose direct threats to national economies and central banks globally.
”Misinformation and disinformation are no longer peripheral concerns,” Mr. Otabil stated, referencing the World Economic Forum’s Global Risk Report, which ranks digital falsehoods among the world’s most severe threats.
He highlighted how rapid technological advancements and digital platforms have accelerated the spread of false news. “From deepfakes to AI-generated market rumors, from social media amplification to coordinated disinformation campaigns targeting currencies, no central bank and no country is immune,” he emphasized. “This is a global phenomenon driven by technology and the speed of digital platforms, and it has undermined public trust everywhere.”
Addressing members of the press corps, Mr. Otabil noted that responsible reporting remains essential to safeguarding public trust, investor confidence, and organizational credibility in complex economic environments.
”Credibility has become journalism’s most valuable asset,” Mr. Otabil said. “When you uphold ethical standards, you do more than file a story. You anchor expectations, protect savings, safeguard economic stability, and help Ghanaians make informed choices.”
To counter the growing challenge of financial misinformation, the Bank of Ghana pledged to continue strengthening its relationship with media practitioners through capacity-building initiatives.
”The bank will continue to deepen this partnership through expanded training, regional press engagements, dedicated communication platforms, and the Governor’s Economic and Financial Story of the Year Award,” he announced.
The three-day training workshop for the BoG Press Corps covers key topics such as media ethics, the regulatory role of the central bank, inflation dynamics, foreign exchange market trends, and analyzing central bank balance sheets.
