Jibril Abdul Mumuni
Takoradi, Nov. 28, GNA – The Institute of Public Relations (IPR) Ghana has inducted a total of 155 newly qualified members into its professional ranks.
The new members were admitted into the Associate, Intermediate, and Accredited membership categories.
The induction ceremony was held at the 7th Annual Summit in conjunction with the the 31st Annual General Meeting (AGM), and the Excellence Awards at Takoradi from November 14-15.
Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Omanhen of the Essikado Traditional Area and President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, urged participants to ground their work in African reality, values, and consciousness, rather than using colonial perspectives.
He stressed the critical role of communicators, noting that any knowledge that enhanced comfort but weakened consciousness was not worth taking in.
“Thus, Communicators and PR professionals are on the front line. If you lose your consciousness, the nation loses its voice,” he noted.
Ms Esther A.N. Cobbah, FIPR, President of IPR Ghana, challenged the members to evolve their capabilities.
She acknowledged the enduring core principles of Public Relations but emphasised the need to rethink approaches, honour ethical responsibility, and respond with integrity and creativity.
The event, Ms. Cobbah said, demonstrated the maturity of the profession and how strategic PR could drive real change and deliver value to organisations and communities alike.
Karpowership Ghana Company Ltd was awarded the Best Community Relations Programme of the Year and PR Organisation of the Year – Energy & Utilities (Energy).
MTN Ghana secured Best in Crisis Communication and PR Organisation of the Year (Telecommunications), while the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) won the Digital & Social Media Communications Campaign of the Year and PR Campaign of the Year.
Vivo Energy Ghana was recognised for the Best Promotional Event and PR Organisation of the Year (Commercial).
Other key winners included WaterAid Ghana for Best in Non-Profit Communication, Strategic Communications Africa Ltd. (Stratcomm Africa) for Best in Environmental and Climate Change Communication, and the Ministry of Roads and Highways as the PR Organisation of the Year (Public Sector).
On the individual front, Shirley Tony Kum was named the PR Practitioner / PR Personality of the Year, Kojo Yankah received the PR Lifetime Achievement Award, and Sandra Amarquaye was the Internal Communicator of the Year.
Leonant Yert was named the Most Outstanding PR Agency / Consultancy of the Year, while UPSA IPR, Ghana Chapter was the Most Outstanding Student Chapter.
Prior to the awards, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, FIPR, was celebrated as the Legend and honoured for his contributions to the profession.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe