IPR holds dinner dance to round off annual celebation

Accra, Nov.1, GNA-Mr K. G. Osei Bonsu, Board Chairman of the Ghana Commercial Bank on Friday urged Public Relations practitioners to be bold to point out to government any observable mistakes to avoid misrule that led to political chaos.

He attributed the series of military governments in post independent Ghana to the failure of the forces of Public Relations to expound and maintain the tenets of democracy.

Mr Bonsu made the point in Accra at a dinner dance to round off this year's celebration of Public Relations week, held on theme: "A Decade of Multi Party Democracy - The Case of Public Relations".

Mr Bonsu stressed democratic culture as a shared responsibility and urged Public Relations practitioners to overcome fear and any culture of silence and not allowed to be used to derail smooth of democratic governance.

He said Public Relations practitioners must not restrict themselves to only the affairs of their companies, but broaden their horizon and confront national issues since the performance of the government machinery affected the practice of their profession and organisations. He reminded Public Relations practitioner to live above reproach, and sustain the tenets of democracy by tolerating divergent views, respect for rule of law, transparency and freedom of speech.

"It is important for practitioners to ensure that they do not use their deep knowledge and privilege to undermine the critical values of multi-party democracy, Mr Bonsu said.

He urged them rather to use their knowledge and skills to assist in the growth and development of the country.

Three new members, who had rendered distinguished services to the Institute and the nation, were inducted as Fellows of the Institute. They were Ms. Joyce Aryee, Chief Executive Officer the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Mr James Kwamena Anaman, Managing Director, Communications, Ashanti Goldfields, and Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Secretariat, whose citation was collected on his behalf.

The new three Fellows add up to make 10 of the Fellows. Eight were inducted as accredited members, and 19 others as Associate Members.

Meanwhile, a new executive, headed by Mr Kojo Yankah, a communications consultant has been elected into office to run the IPR for the next two years They would be sworn into office on December 8, this year.