PROs must lead their organizations to properly engage stakeholders – Oppong Nkrumah

The Minister for Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has charged Public Relations Practitioners to lead their organizations in properly engaging stakeholders on issues of concern.

Mr. Nkrumah was addressing the National Public Relations and Communications summit in Ada last Friday on the theme”Deriving value from values: achieving the Ghana beyond aid agenda”.

He said the world including Ghana was noticing increasing confrontation and clashes between various stakeholders some leading to strikes, agitations, boycotts and sometimes even conflict.

These challenges may lead to PR Fiascos either through a deliberate misinformation campaign being perpetrated by competition or by a genuine failure to properly engage stakeholders.

Mr. Nkrumah said PROs like other professionals have a role in ensuring that the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda succeeds.

The Minister who is also the MP for Ofoase Ayirebi said government has invited the Institute of Public Relations to serve on the Communication Strategy Committee of the Ghana Beyond Aid and was optimistic their inclusion will pay off positively.

“As PR Practitioners it is our duty to let Ghanaians know, understand, and buy into the Ghana Beyond Aid Agenda. We must deliver new attitudes that are required to fulfil it. That’s why we have invited the IPR to serve on the Communication Strategy Committee of the Ghana Beyond Aid and we are looking forward to the output from your participation” he said.

The Information Minister stated that “the contemporary world of PR has been made more complex with the advent of deliberate misinformation campaigns spread widely through social platforms. And we have to be upfront and agile in confronting it. We will have to develop the tools and strategies to stay ahead of the curve quickly”.