Women in PR Ghana successfully organized its 7th annual summit on July 7th and 8th, 2023. The event, held under the theme “Positioning PR Women for Professional Growth and Excellence“, brought together PR and communications professionals, as well as students, for a two-day gathering aimed at learning, idea sharing, and discussing key issues and strategies to elevate the industry and its practitioners.
Throughout the event, notable speakers covered various topics, including measuring PR impact, the value of collaboration in shaping the African narrative, and the importance of aligning online branding with personal identity, among others.
Distinguished communications professionals who led the summit included Gifty Bingley, Senior Communications Officer/Head of Public Information at AMISOM African Union; Oluwasola Obagbemi, Corporate Communications Manager for Anglophone West Africa at META; Tshego Kekana founder of Alpha Destiny Communications South Africa; Ivy Heward-Mills, Communications Strategist and International Protocol and Cross-Cultural Etiquette Expert, also serving as Deputy Director of Public Affairs at UPSA; Praise Nutakor, Head of Communications and Partnerships at UNDP; and Esi Hammond, former Head of Communications Office at the Bank of Ghana.
On the first day, speakers provided insights into how women can influence narratives for career success. Gifty Bingley encouraged practitioners to use storytelling to enhance visibility, demonstrate value, and drive organizational and leadership advancement. Praise Nutakor conducted a comprehensive masterclass on measuring PR campaigns to achieve impact and results.
Oluwasola Obagbemi, Corporate Communications Manager for Anglophone West Africa at META, the first speaker at day two of the event, urged professionals to integrate technology into PR practices to enhance their skills and secure a seat at the management table. She emphasized that technology was here to stay and that professionals needed to embrace the changes it brings while leveraging its positive impact when used responsibly.
Speaking as the Keynote speaker, Esi Hammond , former Head of Communications Office at the Bank of Ghana emphasized the importance of embracing innovation and participating in continuous professional development programs to stay updated on international best practices. “Innovating and exploring will help us keep pace with new trends and stakeholder needs”, she said. She again encouraged professionals to seek advice from their peers, learn from their experiences, and adapt successful campaign strategies to their unique situations; “ask them about the campaigns that are getting their stakeholders excited, see what can work for your peculiar situation and learn from their experiences” , she added.
Ivy Heward-Mills, Deputy Director of Public Affairs at UPSA also underscored the significance of maintaining business etiquette and aligning personal online brands with professional values. She reminded professionals that they serve as walking billboards for themselves, their organizations, and the brands they represent and meeting the expectations of the professional world is essential.
Tshego Kekana, founder of Alpha Destiny Communications South Africa highlighted the need for collaboration within Africa, emphasizing the importance of understanding cultural nuances to effectively practice PR across different countries. She urged African communicators to own their stories and convey them authentically, using their own voices to shape the narrative of Africa in the global arena.
Founder of Women in PR Ghana, Faith Senam Ocloo encouraged women to take up initiatives in their respective organizations stating that “PR is an evolving profession, and practitioners must let people appreciate the things they do by positioning themselves through learning and constantly upskilling themselves and also promoting their works with social media”. To add to that, she emphasized that Women in PR Ghana as a platform for women practicing and studying Public Relations remains committed to “creating the avenue for them to learn, network, and take inspiration from people and leaders and have achieved a lot in their profession”.
The summit was also graced by Esther Cobbah, Founder and CEO of Stratcom Africa, Adedoyin Jaiyesimi, Co-Founder of Comms Avenue, Nigeria and Mr. Mawuko Afadzinu, the President of the Institute of Public Relations Ghana who advised female practitioners to leverage their emotional intelligence and combine it with a deep appreciation for data to excel in their careers.
The 7th edition of the Women in PR Ghana Summit was sponsored by Total Energies Ghana, Vivo Energy, Hollard Ghana, Voltic Ghana, PURC, Woodin, E’April Public Relations, Excelsis, Presentation Plus, and Naole Media.