A delegation from the Institute of Public Relations, (IPR) Ghana, led by its President, Ms Esther A. N. Cobbah, and the President of the African Public Relations Association (APRA), Arik Karani, paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, at his office in Accra.
Ms. Cobbah, who is also the Founder of Strategic Communication Africa Ltd (Stratcomm Africa), introduced Mr. Arik Karani and the IPR Ghana delegation.
She congratulated Hon. Ablakwa, an accredited member of IPR, Ghana, on his ministerial appointment and emphasized the critical role of public relations in national development.
She referred to the importance of the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a positive national image and underlined IPR Ghana’s commitment to contributing to building and projecting a positive national image and reputation as well as a positive image for the African continent.
APRA President Arik Karani, who was on a six-day visit to Ghana, highlighted the need for a unified African PR strategy to reshape the continent’s global narrative.
He extended an invitation to Ghana’s Foreign Minister to participate in APRA’s upcoming 50th-anniversary conference in Mombasa, Kenya, from the 9th to the 13th of June,2025, which will feature a ministerial roundtable on Africa’s global branding.
The Minister was also briefed on the upcoming IPR, Ghana-APRA-IPRA Knowledge Sharing Conference, scheduled for October 3, 2025, in Accra.
This landmark event will precede the International Public Relations Golden World Awards Gala event to be held here in Ghana on the evening of 3rd October 2025.
The two events will bring together PR professionals and stakeholders from across the world to discuss critical issues relating to the Public Relations profession, thus further positioning Ghana as a hub for communications excellence.
Expressing his appreciation for the visit, Mr Ablakwa underscored the crucial role of public relations in diplomacy and governance and expressed his commitment to leveraging PR strategies to improve Ghana’s positioning on the global scene.
He further outlined some key initiatives underway at the Ministry, including ongoing reforms to passport issuing and delivery systems.
IPR Ghana and APRA expressed their commitment to working closely with the Foreign Affairs Ministry and other stakeholders to promote positive storytelling in relation to Ghana and Africa at large.
Other members of the delegation were Executive Committee members of IPR, Ghana: Donald Gwira, Vice President; Gabriel Nii Otu Ankrah, Treasurer; Solace Akomeah, Honorary Secretary; and Abraham Otabil, Deputy Honorary Secretary.
Ms Ivy Heward Mills, Chair of students chapter committee and member of International Relations committee of IPR Ghana, Dr. Nana Sifa Twum,a distinguished member of IPR Ghana With Mr Karani, Samuel Mutahi and Amos Kariuki Treasurer and Member Services both of the Public Relations Society of Kenya.
GNA
