Journalists for Business Advocacy holds training workshop
The Journalists for Business Advocacy (JBA) has held a two-day advocacy workshop to train and sensitise journalists on business reporting, especially on Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).
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The training sponsored by Ecobank Ghana saw the participation of journalists from the print, electronic and online media at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration in Accra.
Addressing the opening session, First Deputy Governor, Mr Millison Narh, said the training was in line with the Central Bank’s initiative to intensify and deepen financial literacy.
Maintaining confidence
He said business journalists have strategic role towards maintaining confidence in the economy through the promotion of public understanding of what the central bank is trying to accomplish and to shape expectations and behaviour of economic agents.
“I challenge every member of JBA to play that advocacy task, which is critical part of the agenda-setting role of the media,” adding that through the platform a lot of national issues could be discussed and tackled.
Touching on reforms to ensure a strong and stable financial system, Mr Narh said a number of bills, including the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Bill, and the Ghana Deposit Protection Bill were under consideration by parliament.
BoG amendments
He said to strengthen the autonomy of the Bank of Ghana, there is a push for amendments of the Bank of Ghana Act to enable it to implement monetary policy effectively by reinforcing the independence of the Board and Monetary Policy Committee and put clear limits on central bank financing of government.
Mr Narh said modalities were being put in place to surrender portions of the export receipts from cocoa and gold directly to the foreign exchange market in the second half of 2016.
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Ecobank support
Head of Corporate Communications Ghana and WAMZ Region, Ecobank, Mrs Patricia Sappor, underscored the importance of the private sector and SMEs to the country’s development through job creation and economic growth.
It is in this direction that Ecobank is happy to sponsor the JBA training workshop for three consecutive years as a sign of commitment to the vision of contributing to the financial integration and economic development of Africa.
“Ecobank cannot overlook the development of the private sector and SMEs in the country as they contribute immensely to the growth and development of the country by their contributions to job creation and GDP” she explained, adding that “the aim of the JBA to promote private sector development and SMEs through creative, credible and factual reportage is extremely commendable.”
She promised Ecobank’s continued sponsorship for both 2017 and 2018.
Mr Suleiman Mustapha, President of JBA, said the workshop aimed to equip journalists with skills to be able to advocate good policies for businesses/SMEs in Ghana.
He said Mustapha said JBA, which is an affiliate of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), is a media advocacy group for SMEs enterprises provide a potent platform to bring to the fore the sector’s contribution to national development as well as challenges to enhance growth.
Participants at the workshop were taken through an array of technical presentations to enhance their knowledge of key contemporary issues. Nana Akorsah delivered a paper on Monetary Policy in Ghana; Awal Imoro of the BoG’s Financial Stability Department delivered a paper on Promoting Financial Stability; Eric Adjapong of the Banking Supervision Department delivered one on Supervision of Deposit Money Banks in Ghana; and Desmond Agbogah of the Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department presented a paper on Regulating the Microfinance Industry.
On the second day, the convener of the SME Summit, Mr.Yaw Asamoah, led a discussion on SMEs as Vehicles for Harnessing Opportunities; and Dr Bernard Otabil, CEO of Ghana News Agency delivered the final presentation on the Role of Journalists in Economic Reporting.
Participants were given certificates upon completion of the workshop.