Professor Abena Animwaa Yeboah-Banin, Dean of the School of Information and Communication, University of Ghana, Legon, has urged social media users to reflect and project “the authentic” version of themselves online.
Speaking at the 2025 Glorious Women on the Go (GWOGO) Summit in Accra, she emphasised introspection and balance between “curated personas and genuine self-expression” online.
Prof Yeboah-Banin cautioned against society’s growing obsession with perfection in the digital age, noting that constant digital performance eroded emotional depth.
“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,” she said.
The event brought together thought leaders, faith figures, entrepreneurs, women professionals and students to discuss the intersection of identity, technology, and self-worth.
It was held on the theme: “The Mask We Wear: Understanding Social Media’s Influence on Identity, Values, and Dignity” at the Christian Worship Centre, Celebration Chapel, Teshie Malik.
The Reverend Cassandra Quaye, President of GWOGO, said the 2025 summit sought to examine how digital culture was reshaping “identity and values.”
A panel session also featured other speakers, including Mr Nicholas Bortey, Head of Marketing – IMC Strategy, Samsung Ghana, Marketing Professional, Madam Tracy Kyei Odonkor, Chief Executive Officer, Liranz Consulting, and Rev William Quaye, Head Pastor of Christian Worship Centre, Celebration Chapel, Teshie Assembly.
The discussions 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, saying the key was for users to know what they wanted and how best to achieve them.
He noted how “purposeful engagement” on social media transformed his business – attracting international recognition from institutions.
Madam Odonkor, who shared her personal evolution from seeking validation to embracing authenticity, cautioned against allowing digital personas to overtake real identity.
Rev Quaye called for transparency and having spiritual depth as antidotes to “digital pretense.”
“The greatest deception is when we convince ourselves that the mask is our real face,” he cautioned.
“Authenticity is an act of faith hence believing that who God made you is enough.”
“Over the years, GWOGO has positioned itself as a safe space for women to confront difficult issues with openness and faith,” he noted.
