Fidelity Bank, CIB Ghana Advance Ethical and Insightful Financial Journalism
Fidelity Bank Ghana, in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIB) Ghana, has taken a significant step toward strengthening ethical and insightful financial journalism by organising a specialised training workshop for media practitioners in the Ashanti Region.
The workshop, held at the Lancaster Hotel in Kumasi, brought together over 20 journalists and was designed to sharpen their understanding of the banking and financial services sector. The programme focused on strengthening journalists’ capacity to report responsibly on financial matters, with emphasis on regulatory frameworks, ethical standards, and the practical reading and interpretation of banks’ financial statements.
The initiative forms part of Fidelity Bank’s broader strategy to support transparency and accountability within Ghana’s financial ecosystem. It also honoured a commitment earlier made by the bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Julian Opuni, to invest in media development as a means of promoting informed public engagement and confidence in the banking sector.
Addressing participants, Mr. Opuni stressed that credible financial journalism plays a critical role in maintaining stability and trust within the financial system, particularly in periods of economic uncertainty.
“Public confidence in the financial system depends heavily on the quality of information available to citizens, and the media serve as a vital bridge in that process,” he noted. “As an indigenous Ghanaian bank, we recognise our responsibility to support accurate, responsible, and analytical reporting. Through this partnership with the Chartered Institute of Bankers, we are empowering journalists with the expertise required to explain complex financial issues clearly and responsibly.”
The training was facilitated by the Chief Executive Officer of CIB Ghana, Mr. Robert Dzato, ACIB, a seasoned finance and ethics professional with over two decades of experience across leading international institutions, including KPMG, Standard Chartered Bank, and Lloyds Banking Group. He delivered in-depth sessions on the structure of Ghana’s banking industry, principles of ethical financial reporting, and techniques for interpreting financial statements to assess institutional performance.
The interactive nature of the workshop encouraged open dialogue, allowing journalists to engage facilitators on matters relating to risk management, regulatory compliance, and professional ethics. These exchanges reflected the growing demand among media practitioners for practical and advanced knowledge in financial reporting.
At the end of the training, certificates were awarded to all participants to mark their successful completion of the programme. Several journalists expressed their appreciation to Fidelity Bank and CIB Ghana for the initiative, describing it as both timely and valuable, and pledged to apply the insights gained to improve the quality and integrity of their reportage.
The Kumasi workshop represents the beginning of a wider national effort by Fidelity Bank and CIB Ghana to enhance financial literacy and elevate the standard of financial journalism in Ghana. The initiative reinforces the shared belief that ethical, accurate, and well-informed reporting is essential to sustaining public trust and supporting long-term economic growth.
