The District Director of Education for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam in the Central Region, Peter Droefenu has said that the Public Relations Officers (PROs) in the Ghana Education Service (GES), have important roles to play in building an enhanced image for the Service.

He told over 70 PROs of the Service drawn from the Northern sector of the country at Ajumako that, "you perform very important roles in the GES at your various districts."

Mr Droefenu, who was closing a three-day refresher course organized for the regional and district PROs challenged them to ensure that the competence and concepts grasped at the course were applied in the performance of their duties.

The District Director encouraged the PROs to visit the schools in their areas so that they could become abreast with the happenings in the schools to enhance their situational reports.

He stress; "Public Relation Officers should not confine themselves at the offices and also only accompany Directors to functions."

Mr Droefenu urged PROs to create the needed atmosphere that could enable them to co-exist peacefully with their Directors.

Joseph Nakpi, the Upper East Regional PRO, who was the course President, recommended the need for the offices of the PROs to be equipped with computers.

He appealed to the GES to arrange for District Directors to be acquainted with the roles and responsibilities of the PROs.

The course President suggested a regular refresher course for PROs.

Ms Hienne Obeng, the Director of Ghana Education Staff Development Institute (GESDI), at Ajumako who presided said the Institute was undergoing a rehabilitation exercise to meet the challenging task.

Joseph Kwesi Odom and Paul Krampah, Head and Deputy Head respectively of the Public Relations Unit of the GES Headquarters were the brain behind the course, which was held under the theme; "Enhancing Public Relations Practice in GES."

Among the topics treated were public relations function, roles and tools, corporate image building, media relations, crisis and event management, production of bulletins and newsletters and ethics of public relations.

Source: GNA