The appreciation was marked by a capacity-building initiative called the "GCB Business Journalism Workshop, "which concluded with a "Media Reception"

Held at the Alisa Hotel, the Business Journalism Workshop hosted close to 60 journalists from various television, radio, print, and online media houses.

This session took the attendees through a series of relevant topics, including Journalism and Reputation of Brands' facilitated by Dr Isaac Tandoh, a PR Practitioner and Communication lecturer at University of Media Arts and Communication (UniMAC).

In his presentation, the lecturer charged the journalists to uphold sound professional principles, steer clear of false information and ensure that they were transparent, honest and open in their reporting.

Human element

The Editor, Graphic, Theophilus Yartey, who was also a facilitator at the workshop, shared insights on the realities of business journalism, drawing from his extensive experience as a business journalist and editor.

Mr Yartey, aside from encouraging the journalists to apply key principles in their reportage, also urged them to as much as possible look for the human element in each business story they reported on in order to make the necessary impact.

Financial reporting

GCB Bank’s Deputy Managing Director, Finance, Socrates Afram, also gave a presentation on how journalists could best report on financial statements when reporting for banks.

He stressed that accurate and insightful financial reporting was essential for the growth of a transparent and trustworthy banking sector.

Mr Afram also encouraged journalists to be prudent in undertaking their responsibilities, especially when analysing and interpreting financial statements for their respective reportage.

A cocktail event dubbed “The Media Reception”, was held to round off the workshop which attracted more than 40 senior journalists and media executives, in addition to those who participated in the workshop.

Media executives, general managers, managing directors and senior editors from various media houses graced the occasion.

Further cooperation

Speaking on behalf of the Managing Director, the Deputy Managing Director, Operations of GCB Bank, Emmanuel Odartey Lamptey, thanked the guests for attending the event.

He used the opportunity to call for further cooperation between the media and GCB Bank. "On behalf of the bank, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to all journalists who have continuously supported our bank through our seven decades of existence and recently during our 70th anniversary celebrations".

"Your commitment to excellence in journalism has not only enhanced our reputation but also fostered trust and transparency with our stakeholders," Mr Lamptey stated.

He said GCB Bank remained steadfast in its commitment to support the media. "We will continue to invest in our initiatives that empower journalists and promote high standards of reporting. Together we can build a more informed and transparent financial sector," the DMD, Operations said.

He added that by investing in the empowerment of journalists, "GCB Bank is helping to ensure that the public receives accurate, insightful, and comprehensive reporting on business and financial issues".

 
Feedback

The feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with some calling for a repeat before the end of the year and others requesting that the bank organised the same event in other parts of the country. The guests and the officials from the bank interacted extensively, networking and sharing lots of insights on finance and journalism.

Bank in perspective

GCB Bank PLC is a leading player in Ghana’s banking industry, with 184 branches, 340 automated teller machines and a number of banking agents spread across the country.

As the country's premier indigenous bank, GCB Bank, since its establishment in 1953, has been described as a systemic bank with significant contribution to Ghana' growth in multiple sectors, including oil and gas, agriculture, commerce among others.

The bank has transformed itself into one of Ghana’s most modern banks in terms of its financial intermediation capabilities, including digital payment platforms and consequently its corporate reputation both at home and abroad.

The bank's relationship with its stakeholders is delivered on a platform of trust, support and collaboration and anchored through its brand promise, "Your Bank for Life”.