The acting Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Paul Asare Ansah has been adjudged the PR personality of the year by the Institute of Public Relations, (IPR) Ghana.
At its 6th PR and Communications Excellence Awards for 2016, the IPR said Paul Ansah’s immense experience and contributions as a PR practitioner for about 25years and his ascendancy to the high office of Chief Executive of one of Ghana’s most sensitive and profitable state owned agencies has elevated the status of the PR profession in Ghana.
According to the IPR, through the leadership of Paul Asare Ansa, the IPR awarded the GPHA Public Sector PR organisation of the year 2015. Also, the Tema Port Integrity campaign which was spearheaded by Paul Asare Ansa also won the IPR campaign of the year in 2015. And this year, under his leadership, the GPHA’s Eye on Port initiative won the Authority PR organisation of the year in the manufacturing and industry category.
Paul Ansah is a seasoned communications expert and business administrator. He has established an enduring positive corporate image for GPHA in local and international business community.
Paul Ansah’s immense contribution to the development and growth of the maritime industry in the sub region culminated in the port of Tema being adjudged the best performing port in west and central Africa in 2014 by the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, the President of IPR, Elaine Sam said the excellence awards have earned considerable respect and therefore promised to maintain a higher standard of professionalism.
“The National IPR awards shall continue to remain competitive in scope and our winners shall continue to be PR practitioners and institutions which meet the high standards IPR has set and continues to strengthen,” she said.
The Acting Director General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Paul Asare Ansah who was also the Guest Speaker charged PR practitioners to add value to themselves and propel PR to the topmost level of management.
“As a PR practitioner you need to add value to yourself and become versatile. If the Chief Executive has an MBA your can equally acquire an MBA too and he will not look down upon you when it comes to critical decision making,” he said.
Paul Ansah entreated PR practitioners to be honest and always communicate credible information to the general public about their organisations.
“We need to be guided in our daily work both in and out of the office by these values of honesty, loyalty and integrity,” he said.
He called on PR practitioners to build trust between the organisation and the public through integrity.
GPHA won PR Organization of the year – Manufacturing & Industry, Best Community Relations went to Vivo Energy, Best Content went to Nestle Ghana, Best for a Cause went to Tigo Ghana, Best in Non-Profit communication went to MTN and Best in Social Media Communication went to Mahogany Consult.
Best in Crises & Issues communication went to MTN, Best promotional event went to Stanbic Ghana, Best in house Team went to Tigo Ghana, Digital & Social Media Communication went to ECG, PR Campaign of the year, and Launch & Relaunch awards were won by Stanbic Ghana.
PR Organization of the year – Telecommunications was won by MTN, Global Media Alliance won PR Consultancy, Newmont won PR Organization of the year – Extractive, Stanbic won PR Organization of the year – Financial
Internal Communicator of the year went to Alex Lartey – Tigo Ghana and PR Discovery of the year went to Shirley Modesta Tony-Kum.
The National PR and Communications Excellence Awards are opened to all parties involved in the use of PR and Communications; PR consultancies, free lancers, in house communications departments, Government and Non-Government agencies and media owners.