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IPR Ghana Inaugurates Northern Belt Chapter
The Institute of Public Relations (IPR), Ghana, has officially inaugurated its Northern Belt Chapter.
The establishment of the chapter with a ceremony at the GNAT Hall in Tamale contributes to strengthening and enhancing the national presence of the Institute. It also bringsprofessional Public Relations practice closer to stakeholders in Northern Ghana.
The ceremony was attended by Public Relations Practitioners from the Northern Belt of the country, namely, the Upper East, Upper West, North East, Northern, and Savannah regions.
Representing the national leadership alongside the Vice President were Madam Solace Akomeah, APR, Honorary Secretary, and Mr. Gabriel Ankrah, APR, Treasurer, who reaffirmed the Executive Committee’s commitment to fostering growth, unity, and collaboration among members across all regions.
The inauguration is one of the activities marking the annual IPR Ghana Month celebrations and the global observance of World Public Relations Day (WPRD) 2025 (16/7/25), which is being marked under the theme “Building Bridges & Navigating Polarisation.”
Delivering the inaugural address, Donald Gwira, Vice President of IPR Ghana, commended members and stakeholders for their dedication to advancing public relations in the northern regions, describing the day as a proud and defining moment for the Institute.
“The creation of the Northern Belt is more than a geographic expansion. It is a strategic move that aligns with our broader vision of inclusivity and capacity building,” Mr. Gwira stated.
He said, “We believe that public relations must reflect the diversity and unity of Ghana, and that every PR professional, regardless of location, should have access to the tools, networks, and opportunities to grow and contribute meaningfully to national development.”
The Northern Belt Chapter is meant to serve as a platform for professional engagement, mentorship, policy advocacy, and knowledge-sharing.
Mr. Gwira also highlighted the relevance of the theme for this year’s World PR Day, urging practitioners to “lead with empathy, communicate with clarity, and act with integrity, serving as connectors in a fragmented society.”
Mr. Gwira further congratulated the members of the Northern Belt on this milestone and encouraged them to embrace their roles as ethical advocates and nation builders.
As part of the Institute’s ongoing efforts to strengthen professional networks and global collaborations, Mr. Gwira also announced that Accra will host the Public Relations Knowledge Sharing Conference from 1st to 3rd October 2025.
This high-level event will be organised under the joint auspices of the Institute of Public Relations, Ghana, the African Public Relations Association (APRA), and the International Public Relations Association (IPRA).
The conference will bring together leading professionals, academics, and policymakers from across Africa and beyond to discuss trends, share insights, and chart the future of strategic communication.
“Together, we move forward,” Mr. Gwira concluded, pledging continued support from the Executive Committee and Governing Council.
The Institute of Public Relations, Ghana, is the recognized professional body mandated to regulate, develop, and promote excellence in public relations and strategic communication practice in Ghana.
The Northern Regional Police Command has arrested three men believed to be part of a kidnapping syndicate responsible for abducting a 42-year-old man in Wapuli, a community in the Yendi District.
The suspects, Haruna Seidu, Amidu Bandi and Osman Bandi allegedly kidnapped the victim and demanded GH¢100,000 from his family for his release.
According to a police statement, officers from the Regional Police Intelligence Directorate were deployed to Wapuli after the incident was reported.
The team conducted surveillance and launched a rescue operation.
On Friday, December 5, 2025, police successfully rescued the victim and arrested the suspects after what was described as an intense exchange of gunfire.
The suspects were later taken into custody and are expected to be arraigned before court.
The Police said the a fourth suspect, who is believed to have sustained gunshot wounds during the operation, is currently on the run.
They urged the public to provide any information that may lead to his arrest.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong advocates Bold educational reforms at the UK House of Lords during Global Education Summit.
On November 27 2025, global development leaders, policymakers, education experts and civil society organisations gathered at the UK Parliament’s House of Lords for the Global Education Summit hosted by The Baroness Verma of Leicester and organised by the African British Business Forum.
The high-level event focused on the global rise in out-of-school children and the urgent reforms required to deliver equitable, quality education for all.
Among the distinguished Speakers was Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong, Founder & President of Women in Sustainability Africa (WiSA) and General Manager of the EIB Network, who delivered a compelling address on the theme “Breaking Barriers: Empowering Out-of-School Children Through Education.”
In her remarks, Nana Yaa who is currently celebrating 26years of Service in the Media, emphasized that education must be viewed as essential national infrastructure, not charity.
Borrowing experiences from her 18 years of empowering women and young people, she presented a strong case on how Africa’s poor educational systems tie into the poor state of its Gender Equality gap.
According to her, unlocking access to education is one of the most effective ways to strengthen economies, empower women and young girls, build resilient communities and drive sustainable development.
She highlighted that each child excluded from learning represents deferred innovation, delayed opportunity and a weakened society.
Nana Yaa noted that the barriers keeping millions of children out of school are complex and interconnected—ranging from poverty and cultural norms to geographical isolation and digital exclusion.
Addressing these challenges, she argued, requires solutions that are equally comprehensive and multi-layered.
Nana Yaa stressed that girls remain disproportionately affected, and investing in girls’ education has a transformative impact across several Sustainable Development Goals, including gender equality, poverty reduction, health outcomes and climate resilience.
Nana Yaa advocated for the expansion of flexible, inclusive and community-responsive educational models, such as mobile classrooms for remote and nomadic communities, community learning hubs, after-hours programmes for working children, radio-based instruction for low-tech areas and digital platforms designed to reach learners regardless of connectivity challenges.
She warned that without deliberate action, the digital divide would continue to widen, pushing already vulnerable children further to the margins.
During her presentation, she introduced three major reforms WiSA is seeking Partners for, aimed at reshaping educational access across Africa and beyond.
These are the Digital Bridge for Out-of-School Children (DBOC), the Community Education Stewardship Hubs (CESH) involving local women educators and youth volunteers and the Teen-focused Global Skills Accelerator for Out-of-School Teens (GSA-OT).
She also underscored the need for education systems that support instruction, inclusivity and healing, particularly for children experiencing autism, trauma, displacement or conflict.
Nana Yaa emphasised that emotional and psychological support must be integrated into educational frameworks in order to restore confidence, stability and long-term learning capacity.
The summit concluded with strong commitments from stakeholders to adopt sustainable financing models, strengthen data-driven policies and expand cross-sector partnerships.
The African British Business Forum reaffirmed its commitment to championing innovative, scalable solutions to educational inclusion across the UK, Africa and the wider global community.
