Global Media Alliance marked the grand finale of the 2025 World PR Day (WPRD) Festival with the WPRD Fireside Chat on Friday, July 18, rallying both experts in the field and novices with a shared interest.
Hosted at the Silverbird Cinemas in Accra, the Fireside Chat ignited the interest of patrons present, who described it as an engaging way to celebrate five years of commitment to promoting Public Relations and its impact. Chief Director of Global Media Alliance Group, Emma Wenani, drew attention to the significance of holding this event for the fifth consecutive year under the theme “Dominant Coalition and Personal Branding.” She emphasized that this milestone not only marks progress but also reflects the spirit of birthing ideas and forging long-standing partnerships to advance the Public Relations practice—particularly in Ghana and globally.
The event featured a panel discussion with exceptional minds from the world of Public Relations. The discussion, moderated by Group Head of Marketing, Corporate Affairs, and Customer Experience, Cynthia Ofori-Dwumfuo, included the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Corporate Services) of the Food and Drugs Authority, Gayheart Mensah, and the Deputy Managing Director of Tullow Ghana, Cynthia Lumor, who shared their experiences in the field and the crucial decisions required to thrive.
Cynthia Lumor kick-started the conversation by speaking about her eagerness to learn and her determination to exceed expectations—an attitude that opened doors for her to understand best practices and navigate challenges in the industry. “You must have that desire to learn. Be ready to learn from the people before you and seize the opportunities that come with it.”
Madam Lumor further highlighted that Public Relations, as a profession, revolves around four key values which are, Empathy, Integrity, Dependability, and Boldness. These, she noted, were instrumental in shaping her journey to becoming a leading voice in the PR sector. “You need to be bold to make the decisions that matter. Don’t get too comfortable; you learn as much as you can from wherever you find yourself, and when it is time to make a move, you move. Being afraid to move paralyzes us and does not give us the opportunity to become successful,” she stated.
A key validation came from media practitioner and Public Relations consultant Gayheart Mensah, who entered the PR space driven by curiosity. He shared that his background in journalism laid the foundation, offering him the experience of engaging with diverse individuals and understanding the fundamentals of public communication. Each professional role, he added, contributed to his growth and impact in the field.
He encouraged aspiring PR professionals to take their careers seriously and live by principles that foster development. Mr. Mensah further advised them to define personal goals that will guide their journey to success. “Make sure you set out goals for yourself. It’s very important to have goals which are sustainable, measurable, attainable, realistic. They are very important,” he noted.
As the headline event of the WPRD Festival 2025, the Fireside Chat ended with a networking session that sparked promising partnerships among PR practitioners, communication experts, policymakers, students, businesses, and representatives from academia.
By: Kobina Baidoo
