The Public Relations Coordinating Division (PRCD) of the Information Services Department (ISD) has hosted its 2025 Mid-Year Review Summit for State Public Relations Officers (PROs).
Speaking at the summit on Wednesday in Accra, the Head of PRCD, Rev. Charlotte Hanson, underscored the need for PROs to reflect on their achievements, challenges, and strategies for the months ahead.
She described the gathering as “not just a formality, but a recommitment to the mandate of the ISD in providing communication support to ministries, departments, agencies, regional coordinating councils, and Ghana’s missions abroad.”
Rev. Hanson highlighted the success of 21 virtual information sessions held across ministries, agencies, and councils but urged PROs to improve participation.
On the BONSU online reporting platform, she raised concerns over irregular submissions by some officers, stressing that timely reporting is essential for accurate assessment of PRO performance.
She announced that a review of the system is underway, with training sessions to follow.
Rev. Hanson further revealed that an annual monitoring exercise will begin on October 6, 2025, to directly engage with PROs, assess achievements, and identify challenges. In addition, the division has scheduled its yearly capacity training for the first week of November, with a renewed focus on leadership and managerial skills.
The PRCD also announced plans to establish a Government PROs Association, which will operate as a cohort of the Institute of Public Relations (IPR), Ghana. A draft constitution is being prepared for review and input from members.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of State for Government Communications, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Hajia Shamima Muslim commended the PROs for their unwavering dedication, unrelenting passion that have been the driving force behind the success so far of the government.
“You are the backbone of the current differentiation in the country’s governance because without communication there is nothing and I’m honored to work alongside such talented and committed team”, she said.
Hajia Shamima highlighted the growing threat of misinformation and disinformation, urging government communicators to position themselves as trusted sources of accurate and timely information.
“We either innovate or we die,” she said, stressing the need for the ISD to reinvent itself as an innovative, proactive, and creative service capable of shaping public opinion responsibly.
She further encouraged PROs to see their work not merely as meeting targets but as making meaningful impacts on citizens’ lives through responsive, passionate, and transparent communication.
She added that the reset would establish new benchmarks for governance communication, positioning the ISD as the “engine of government information.”
In her closing remarks, the Acting Director of ISD, Dr. Nafisa Mahama, expressed concern about low attendance at information sessions, which are designed to broaden officers’ understanding of government policies and programs beyond their immediate assignments.
She reminded PROs that, as the communication backbone of government institutions, they must not work in isolation but instead collaborate, exchange experiences, and provide peer support.
“Sometimes assignments can be overwhelming, but a colleague who has faced similar challenges can offer guidance with just a phone call,” she said.
Dr. Mahama also urged PROs to work closely with newly recruited Right to Information (RTI) officers, reminding them that all serve under the broader mandate of information officers within the Information Services Department.
Judith Twumwaa, ISD
