The Information Service Department (ISD) is ramping up efforts to strengthen public education and social protection communications nationwide, with the rollout of key technological upgrades and capacity-building initiatives for its Regional and District officers.
The Acting Director of ISD, Dr Winnifred Nafisa Mahama, disclosed this on Wednesday in Koforidua during the sensitisation workshop to train regional and district officers of the department on the Single Window Citizens Engagement Service (SWCES).
She announced the arrival of the long-awaited vans, adding that the vehicles, housed at the department, have been equipped with supplementary logistics, including desktop computers and modems to be distributed in all the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
“With equipment in hand, expectations are higher. If I ask for a report today, I expect it today, not tomorrow,” she added.
Dr Mahama stated that, in line with a broader transformation agenda, the ISD will soon launch a series of in-house training and refresher programs, adding that the Department will rely on its seasoned internal experts, with the exposure and qualifications for peer-to-peer learning, coaching, and mentorship in-house rather than outsourcing.
“We are building capacity for impact,” she emphasised.
She urged officers to fully embrace the sessions, which are essential to staying relevant in a changing communications landscape.
Dr Mahama noted that a major highlight of the training session was the expansion of the BONSU platform, a central digital database currently used by Public Relations Officers.
The BONSU, a powerful real-time reporting tool, is a software that gives us up-to-date information on what is happening in every Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and will soon be accessible to all MMDAs.
According to her, officers would be required to log daily updates on district activities, event plans, and communication needs when it is deployed.
“This real-time information will support strategic decision-making by national stakeholders, including the President. This platform is not just for reporting; it’s a planning tool.” It helps avoid overlaps in national events and optimises media engagement,” she explained.
Training on the BONSU system will be rolled out soon, with unique logins provided to all district officers and their coordinating directors, she said.
She urged all staff to observe proper administrative protocols when addressing grievances, emphasising the importance of routing issues through regional directors before escalating them nationally.
Priscilla Osei-Wusu Nimako, ISD
