The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has traced the excellence of public relations to biblical principles and historical leadership, describing the profession as ancient, noble and central to leadership readiness.
Delivering the keynote address at the 2026 National PR Summit at Capital View Hotel, Koforidua, on the theme “Public Relations and Leadership Readiness”, the Speaker said PR is far older than modern corporate communication and must be understood as strategic wisdom in leading people.
He said true PR is not spin, propaganda, corrupt speech or manipulation, but strategic communication anchored in transparency, love and character.
To establish its depth, the Speaker referenced the Bible, noting that storytelling through parables was a powerful PR tool used to convey complex truths simply, while edifying communication as espoused in Ephesians emphasizes building up rather than tearing down.
He also cited Moses, who he described as leading one of the most complex public constituencies in history — through a hostile wilderness — requiring mission clarity, integrity and the ability to conduct oneself wisely under pressure.
According to him, the principles that guided Moses — clarity of vision, consistency of message and empathy for the people — remain the core tenets of effective public relations and leadership today.
Moving to classical history, the Speaker cited General Pericles Xanthippus of ancient Greece, renowned for his oratory and ability to connect Athenian democracy to its citizens, and Roman statesman Marcus Antonius, whose mastery of persuasion shaped public opinion in Rome.
He also celebrated Ghanaian political strategists Komla Agbeli Gbedemah and Archie Casely-Hayford as masters of political communication who understood how to connect leadership with the ordinary Ghanaian.
The Speaker said the most compelling modern example of PR excellence is former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, whose calm, principled and humane communication style restored confidence in the United Nations during turbulent global moments.
He noted that Annan’s legacy demonstrates that leadership is not only about the authority exercised but about how leaders connect with people, explain difficult decisions and inspire confidence across cultures.
According to him, these examples prove that public relations is at the heart of leadership readiness, and IPR Ghana must therefore see itself as a custodian of an age-old noble practice that shapes nations.
The 2026 National PR Summit, which runs from October 22 to 24 at the Capital View Hotel, Koforidua, on the theme “Public Relations and Leadership Readiness,” has brought together over 300 Fellows and members of IPR Ghana, academia and dignitaries including Eastern Regional Minister Hon. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Hajia Shamima Muslim, Presidential Staffer Nana Yaa Jantuah, and IPR Ghana and IPRA President Ms. Esther A. N. Cobbah.
By Robert Dela Mawuenyegah, (Member, IPR Ghana) // Newswatchgh.com
