Professor Abena Animwaa Yeboah-Banin, Dean of the School of Information and Communication at the University of Ghana, Legon, has called on social media users to reflect and project their authentic selves online.
Speaking at the 2025 Glorious Women on the Go (GWOGO) Summit in Accra, she emphasised the need for introspection and balance between curated online personas and genuine self-expression. She cautioned that society’s growing obsession with digital perfection was eroding emotional depth and distorting identity.
“We have become shallow beings seeking praise, forgetting our inner depth. It’s okay to have struggles; it’s okay to have unpleasant sides. That’s what makes you human,” Prof Yeboah-Banin said.
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The summit, which gathered thought leaders, faith figures, entrepreneurs, women professionals, and students, explored the intersection of identity, technology, and self-worth under the theme, “The Mask We Wear: Understanding Social Media’s Influence on Identity, Values, and Dignity.” It was held at the Christian Worship Centre, Celebration Chapel, Teshie Malik.
Reverend Cassandra Quaye, President of GWOGO, said the 2025 edition examined how digital culture is reshaping identity and values, urging participants to confront the effects of social media on self-perception.
A panel discussion featured Mr Nicholas Bortey, Head of Marketing – IMC Strategy at Samsung Ghana; Madam Tracy Kyei Odonkor, Chief Executive Officer of Liranz Consulting; and Rev William Quaye, Head Pastor of Christian Worship Centre, Celebration Chapel, Teshie Assembly.
The panellists analysed the psychological, social, and spiritual implications of life behind the digital mask. Mr Bortey, an entrepreneur and tech strategist, highlighted the importance of intentionality in digital expression, explaining that purposeful engagement on social media had transformed his business and attracted international recognition.
Madam Odonkor shared her personal evolution from seeking validation to embracing authenticity, cautioning against allowing digital personas to overshadow one’s real identity.
Rev Quaye urged transparency and spiritual depth as remedies to digital pretence, warning that “the greatest deception is when we convince ourselves that the mask is our real face.” He added, “Authenticity is an act of faith, believing that who God made you is enough.”
He noted that over the years, GWOGO has positioned itself as a safe space for women to confront difficult issues with openness and faith.
