Students of Archbishop Porter Girls SHS during a session
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has taken its nationwide financial literacy campaign to 10 selected Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the Western Region to equip students and teachers with skills for sound financial decision-making and fraud prevention.
The initiative targets young people at an early age, with the aim of also influencing financial habits within their families and communities.
Participating schools include Archbishop Porter Girls SHS, Ghana Secondary Technical School (GSTS), Mpohor SHS, Adiembra SHS, Methodist SHS, Takoradi SHS, Annor Adjaye SHS, Amenfiman SHS, Bonzo-Kaku SHS and Holy Child College of Education.
Core Topics Covered
Central Bank officials engaged students on responsible saving and investment, identifying BoG-licensed financial institutions, protecting personal banking information, and recognising financial scams and red flags.
Other areas included complaint handling procedures, responsible borrowing and credit management, the role of loan guarantors, digital lending services such as mobile money loans, and the consequences of loan defaults on future access to credit.
Students were also educated on their rights and responsibilities as customers of financial institutions, including the need to safeguard passwords and PINs, and the proper channels for lodging complaints against regulated institutions.
As part of the practical session, the BoG demonstrated how to distinguish genuine Ghana cedi notes from counterfeits using the currency’s security features.
Teachers from the participating schools also received training to strengthen their own financial literacy for daily transactions.
Early Habits Key
Speaking during one of the engagements, Godfred Cudjoe of the BoG’s Financial Stability Department said the Bank has already rolled out campaigns on radio, television, social media and among market women.
“The decision to extend the programme to second-cycle institutions is to instil sound financial habits early,” Mr. Cudjoe said. “These habits will guide students and, by extension, their families in making important financial decisions.”
The BoG says the school outreach will continue in other regions as part of its broader public education strategy.
A Business Desk Report