"Take Full Advantage Of This Summit And Build Your Resilience To Do More" - Frema Opare Charges PROs
- Think News Online
- May 12, 2021
- 5 min read
The Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare has charged various Public Relations Officers (PROs) across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of the Government of Ghana to take full advantage of the 2nd CEOs summit and build their resilience to do more at their respective institutions.
According to her, the summit will help sharpen the skills of PROs in assisting their Ministers, Chief Directors, and Chief Executives to identify stakeholders in their various sectors and develop a deeper relationship with them.
Speaking at the 2nd Annual Public Relations Officers Summit in Accra, she said "Today’s summit will also be an opportunity for you to sharpen your skills on assisting your Ministers, Chief Directors and Chief Executives to identify stakeholders in your various sectors and develop a deeper relationship with them. It will also sharpen your skills in developing PR and communications plans for your Organization’s opportunities in the works of your Organizations and extracting to be amplified to the rest of the country"
The Chief of Staff also hinted that ever since the Ministry of Information was re-established by President Akufo-Addo, it has become obvious that government outreach to and feedback from its public have seen a significant improvement.
"Ladies and gentlemen, last year, the Ministry, under this new focus invited ISD PROs to the maiden summit to re-energize PROs for your work. The report I have is that the works and reports of PROs have improved significantly since then and are aiding the Ministry of Information in developing proactive engagements between Government and its publics"
She mentioned that the Ministry and Department have also undertaken several steps to improve the work of the Public Relations Division.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this year the Ministry’s decision to expand its PR network through collaboration with PROs in State-Owned enterprises is a very positive move. Public Relations Officers of State-Owned Enterprises have done a yeoman's job in improving communications from their outfits. Though not staff of the Information Services Department, it is important that SOE PROs are in synch with the broader communications strategy and plan of government.
To this end, all State-Owned Enterprises Public Relations Officers have been invited here today and are now expected to be on-boarded unto the information sharing platforms of the Ministry of Information to facilitate smooth flow of information within the government for communication purposes"
The Chief of Staff explained that although communication of government policies and programs is more difficult in the second term of any government, she believes that tougher times will call for tougher measures.
"The new paradigm that the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah (MP) has introduced to the work of PROs, is one that should be embraced by all of you, be you from the ISD or SOEs. This paradigm essentially calls on you as a collective to contribute to the national conversation that goes on daily on our airwaves and online by ensuring that the activities, the Policies, and the programs of your Organization are distilled and pushed to the Ghanaian public. Not once in a while, But Daily. Not in reaction to negative publicity alone, BUT proactively"
Speaking on the 'Bonsu Platform', she said "This however should be done in a coordinated manner. The online platform, BONSU, which enables the government information machinery to plan, react and disseminate information quickly among all the government communication stakeholders is therefore of the highest level of importance if proactive development communications will work effectively. Utilize it. "
On the purchase of ISD vans, Madam Osei-Opare assured that government is bent on providing them.
"At the last Cabinet Meeting in Peduase before the elections, the President of the Republic committed, upon a proposal from your Minister, to ensure that funding for the new ISD vans is provided in this second term. This will go a long way to deepen the ability of your colleagues in the regions and districts to execute effective Public Education campaigns that will carry our people along with government activities at all times"
"Despite the severe impact of covid-19 on the economy, the Administration has already outlined and commenced work on several initiatives aimed at doing more to improve the quality of lives of Ghanaians. But if we collectively do not do a better job in making the public aware of these developments, many will remain dissatisfied and without hope"
On his part, the Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said "In 2018, when I took office as Minister for the sector, the Information Services Department had 40 public relations officers. A public relation's class was not mandated as a professional class as of the case of accountants, auditors and other classes in our public services"
He further explained that the Ministry of Information embarked on a drive to show off the number of PROs and to professionalize the class adding that 30 more PROs have been added to the existing 40 leaving a total of 70.
"We have also registered all PROs with the Institute of Public Relations, paid their subscriptions and fees and we have caused them to be continuously trained so that they can deliver professional services with the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies"
He however hinted that the MOI is now turning its attention to ensuring that all regional coordinating councils and Municipal, Metropolitan, and District Assemblies also recruit PROs and have that class professionalized.
"The job of the media is not necessarily to promote what the government is doing. It is rather our job as Heads of Communications across the various government agencies to forcefully dominate the communication space with information on what our Ministries, Departments, and Agencies and what our State-Owned Enterprises are doing for and on behalf of the people of Ghana"
The Minister for Information who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi hammered that many Heads of Organizations do not open up adding that it makes it difficult for PROs to relay information for the government’s consumption.
“Our prayer to you is to use your good office to whip all government actors in line to open up to PROs and let them get the needed information”
He reminded the PROs that the value of their work, assessment, career progression depends on the output of their work.
The Director at Information Services Department, Charles Wereko in his welcome address said “As frontline officers and indeed gate-keepers of various public institutions, there is a critical need for officers constantly update their skills knowledge on the profession. Indeed there are numerous challenges they encounter as PROs at the fore-front of government communication machinery but they need to master their craft by regularly updating knowledge with new and best practices in the field”
He noted that the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic has impacted every aspect of human endeavors including the publishing practice.
Mr. Wereko stressed that although the pandemic has caused mayhem, it has also presented a unique opportunity to really accept the relevance of PR as an essential tool in crisis management.
In an exclusive interview with Thinknewsonline.com, the Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Sports, Kenneth Annan appealed to fellow PROs to put in their best in their various Institutions.
He said “This is a very laudable idea and I feel this summit should be organized often so that all PROs and Communications Officers within various sectors of the economy, come together to share their views to see what we can do to ensure that communication becomes effective”
“I think we have to take the advice that has been given to us by both the Minister and the Chief of Staff in good faith and ensure that PR is something that is just not an event but something that you have to do on a daily basis so we have to be very proactive in the way communication is supposed to be managed to send out important information to the public going forward”
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Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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