Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama, Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), says the Bank will, in 2026, focus on consolidating the macroeconomic gains achieved in 2025 while strengthening Ghana’s foreign exchange and money markets.

He said the Bank’s reform agenda for the year would prioritise measures aimed at improving confidence across the financial markets and safeguarding the stability restored in the past year.

Dr. Asiama said this at the Bank’s New Year media engagement in Accra, held to review the 2025 fiscal year and share expectations for 2026.

“For the Bank of Ghana, 2025 was a year of restoring macroeconomic stability, rebuilding confidence in policy, and re‑establishing order across key segments of the financial system. At the macroeconomic level, the Bank’s foremost priority was anchoring inflation expectations and restoring stability,” he said.

The Governor emphasised the crucial role of the media in promoting transparency in economic governance, describing a free, independent, and responsible press as a cornerstone of democracy.

He noted that although monetary and financial policy issues were often complex, journalists played a vital role in simplifying and clarifying such matters for the public. He announced that the Bank’s digital finance agenda for 2026 would focus on resilience and robust safeguards as usage continued to expand.

“Oversight will be strengthened to ensure consumer protection, sound governance, and system reliability, while innovation proceeds within clear regulatory boundaries,” he said.

Dr. Asiama said programmes introduced in 2025 and continuing into 2026, including those relating to gold and other reserves, would transition into more sustainable, institutional, and fiscally responsible arrangements.

“Our expectation as a central bank is not mere compliance but responsibility — accuracy, balance, and context,” he said.

He explained that the Bank’s policy decisions remained data-driven and forward‑looking, with a firm commitment to maintaining stability.

“We do not respond to pressure, we do not respond to speculation, and we do not respond to sentiments. We respond to evidence, risks, and the medium‑term outlook for price and financial stability,” he stressed.

Dr. Asiama reiterated that the Bank prioritised stability over speed, adopting policies that were sustainable even when difficult in the short term. He added that the central bank functioned

as an institution guided by established frameworks and collective decision‑making informed by rigorous analysis.

He highlighted progress made in capital market development in 2025, particularly ongoing discussions around encouraging bank listings.

“Working with market regulators and stakeholders, the Bank supported efforts to enhance the use of public markets to strengthen governance, transparency, and market discipline within the financial sector,” he said.

The Governor also announced the introduction of an internal media recognition initiative dubbed the Governor’s Economic and Financial Story of the Year, designed to promote accurate, insightful, and innovative reporting across traditional and digital platforms.

The winning journalist will be sponsored to attend the annual IMF–World Bank Meetings.

Dr. Zakari Mumuni, First Deputy Governor of BoG, lauded the gains made in the financial sector, noting that currency stability was a collective national achievement. He emphasised that central banking relied on trust, and urged the media to maintain responsible reporting to enhance public confidence.