By Benjamin Adamafio Commey
Accra, July 16, GNA – Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, has urged Public Relations officers in the public service to uphold integrity, accuracy and fairness to strengthen public confidence in state institutions.
He said credible and timely communication was essential to building trust, promoting transparency and countering misinformation.
The Minister made the call in a speech read for him by Madam Shamima Muslim, Deputy Minister in charge of Government Communications, at the 2026 Government Public Relations Officers’ Mid-Year Performance Review and World Public Relations Day celebration in Accra.
“The information you provide must be factual, timely, balanced and consistent with government policy,” he said.
The event was held on the theme: “The Golden Age of Strategic Public Relations: Empowering Governance through Effective Communication.”
Mr Kwakye Ofosu cautioned officers against allowing personal opinions, political sentiments or unverified information to influence their professional responsibilities.
He said the effectiveness of government depended not only on the quality of its policies but also on how well those policies were communicated, adding that Public Relations officers served as a vital link between government and the public.
The Minister urged officers to submit reports on public feedback on government policies, programmes and activities promptly to support policy implementation and service delivery.
He commended the Public Relations Coordinating Division (PRCD) for initiatives including virtual information sessions, a mentorship programme with Accra Technical University, the maiden Public Relations Officers’ Breakfast Meeting and the establishment of the Association of Government Public Relations Practitioners.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu said Government would continue to support the professional development of Public Relations officers.
He encouraged the PRCD to expand training in artificial intelligence, digital communication, data analytics, crisis communication and strategic planning.
Presenting the PRCD mid-year report, Reverend Mrs Charlotte Hanson, Head of the Division, said the PRCD organised 22 virtual information sessions between March and May to improve officers’ understanding of government policies and national development initiatives.
She said a mentorship programme with Accra Technical University had provided practical experience for 100 Public Relations students, while the Division had facilitated the incorporation of the Association of Government Public Relations Practitioners.
Rev. Mrs Hanson expressed concern over low compliance with reporting requirements, saying only 1,154 of the expected 1,392 activity reports were submitted during the review period.
She said only 76 of the expected 116 electronic newsletters were also received and announced that the Division would undertake field monitoring, capacity-building programmes and the Government PR Excellence (GoPREX) Awards during the second half of the year.
Madam Esther Cobbah, President of the Institute of Public Relations (IPR), Ghana, called on practitioners to build public trust through integrity, empathy and professionalism.
She said trust depended on honest engagement and a clear understanding of citizens’ concerns, urging Public Relations officers to go beyond communicating government messages to helping leadership appreciate public concerns.
Madam Cobbah said effective communication required strategic thinking, sound reporting and the ability to influence decision-makers, adding that integrity remained the foundation of public relations practice.
She urged practitioners to embrace digital communication and artificial intelligence while ensuring technological advancement did not exclude underserved communities.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Benjamin Adamafio Commey