26 GIS Regional Public Affairs Officers Trained

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has organised a three-day public relations training for 26 selected officers across the county. This forms part of measures the Service is putting in place to revamp and decentralise the operations of its Public Affairs Unit. The training, which was under the theme �Building an effective (PR) communication network in the GIS�, gave participants the opportunity for the first time in the history of the GIS, apart from the Regional Commander and his Assistant, to serve as spokespersons and advocates for the Service in the respective regions, especially in relation to the media. Explaining the aim of the training, the Head of Public Affairs Unit, Asst. Comptroller of Immigration (ACOI) Francis Palmdeti stated that the GIS was counting on them as Regional Public Affairs Officers to provide reliable information to the media and educate the general public in their respective regions about the mandate of the GIS. Addressing the personnel during the opening ceremony, the Director of Immigration, COP Dr Peter A. Wiredu, said the training was expected to equip and sharpen their communication skills and to prepare the personnel to serve as ambassadors in their respective regions. He urged them to be familiar with the relevant and critical issues of the Service before they speak, and continue to learn, acquire and develop their skills in communication. The Director admonished them to exhibit the virtues of integrity, credibility and loyalty to the GIS and be guided by the essential professional ethics of public relations, the code of conduct of public servants and GIS directives. �Do not allow your parochial political interest and views to influence your judgement in dealing with official matters of GIS,� he cautioned. He implored the personnel to take the training course seriously. The personnel were taken through Public Relations Practice in the 21st Century, Image/ Reputation Building, Public Speaking and Presentation Skills, Crisis Management, Social Media and PR Work, Setting up a PR Office, Basic Writing skills and Customer Relations by OrgCom Insights, a communications training and consulting firm.