The Bank of Ghana has launched the Governor's Economic and Financial Story of the Year Award. Governor Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama announced the award on Saturday night at the GJA's 30th Media Awards in Accra.
The overall winner will be sponsored to the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings or their Annual Meetings.
The award includes a laptop and a year of free internet data. Recipients will gain access to professional fellowships with the Thomson Foundation, the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism and accredited journalism training institutions in Ghana. The Bank of Ghana scheme also offers scholarships for further studies in journalism, media and communications.
The award is part of the Bank of Ghana's efforts to promote economic and financial reporting in Ghana. The Bank of Ghana has stated that its objective is to invest in the development of journalists who can continue to elevate the quality of economic and financial reporting in Ghana. This is particularly important given Ghana's current economic situation, with inflation rising to 5.5% in October.
According to Governor Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, the press is a vital partner in translating technical subjects such as inflation trends, exchange rate movements and financial sector reforms for households and businesses. He described the press as "society's compass" against online falsehoods. The award is expected to promote accurate, balanced, and insightful reporting on economic and financial issues in Ghana.
The first winner of the award, GBC's Esther Aidoo, was named at the GJA's 30th Media Awards in Accra. The award is open to business and economics journalists in Ghana. The Bank of Ghana has stated that it will continue to support the development of journalists in Ghana through the award and other initiatives.