PR practitioners attend conference on communication

The Institute of Public Relations, Ghana (IPR) has organised a two-day communication conference for 48 public relations officers working with selected district directorates of education in Brong-Ahafo and Upper West regions, in Sunyani.

The IPR organised the conference in collaboration with NU Communications, an international nongovernmental organisation in communications and office practice on the theme: “Effective Public Relations, a Necessity for Institutional Growth”.

The conference was to enhance the skills and knowledge of institutional managers and public relations practitioners to be more productive in their organisations and institutions.

Topics discussed included “Developing and Executing an Effective Communications Campaign Plan to enhance Institutional Performance, “Effective Media Relations for Building Institutional Integrity”, “The Role of Public Relations in Public Sector Institutions” and “Effective Annual Report Writing and Presentation Skills”.

Nana Banyin Pratt, a management consultant and Dean of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) Public Service School, stressed that public relations practitioners had the responsibility to serve as watch-dogs of their organisations to prevent them from encountering problems.

He urged practitioners to serve the interest of the public and their organisations since that would promote their growth and development.

Nana Banyin Pratt called on managers and heads of organisations, to listen and respect the views of their workers since such good practices would create cordial working relationships to maintain their trust and confidence in them.

Major Albert Don-Chebe (Retired), Director Corporate Planning and Export Development and Investment Fund and President of IPR, Ghana said the key to successful public relations was to anticipate problems and opportunities.

He said it was important for the PR practitioners to be proactive in their activities to forestall challenges that might face their organisations.

Major Don-Chebe, who is also the Director General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), commended the regional directors of education in the two regions for assembling their public relations officers to receive the required knowledge and skills pertinent to their schedules.

Dr. George Adjei-Henneh, Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of Education, stressed the need for public relations practitioners to get closer to their heads of departments to receive the necessary information for dissemination to the various partners and stakeholders of education in the communities.

He advised the participants to use the knowledge and skills acquired to carry out with their management functions effectively to move education forward in the regions.

Mr David Babayara, Director NU Image Communications, expressed appreciation to the efforts of the participants in responding and contributing to the deliberation at the conference to make the programme successful.