Journalists for Business Advocacy holds training workshop

Accra, May 2, GNA - 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).

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, Mr Millison Narh, First Deputy Governor, said the training was in line with the Central Bank's initiative to intensify and deepen financial literacy.

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 are under consideration at the legislature.

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 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 are 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.

Mrs Patricia Sappor, Ecobank Head of Corporate Communications Ghana and WAMZ Region, 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.

Mr Mustapha Suleman, 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 Suleman said JBA as 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.

GNA