The Institute of Public Relations (IPR), Ghana, has launched the Annual Edzikanfo Lecture, an initiative aimed at honouring pioneers of the Public Relations profession and drawing lessons from their contributions to professional practice and society.
The maiden edition, held on Friday, August 7, 2026, at the British Council Auditorium in Accra, honoured the late Joseph Emmanuel Allotey-Pappoe (JEAP), a former President of IPR Ghana and the African Public Relations Association (APRA).
The initiative is intended to honour a different PR trailblazer each year and provide a platform for reflection, professional learning and mentorship.
President of IPR Ghana, Esther A. N. Cobbah, FIPR, said “Edzikanfo” means “those who took the lead; those who went ahead of us; those who paved the way for us.”
“If we have an Institute of Public Relations Ghana today, it is because of those who paved the way for us,” she said.
The keynote speaker and Immediate Past President of APRA, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, described JEAP as an institution builder who played a significant role in reviving the then Federation of African Public Relations Associations (FAPRA) and strengthening collaboration among PR professionals across the continent.
“JEAP understood that leadership was leaving an institution stronger than you found it. He restored belief, united professionals and left a legacy we can build on,” he said.
Speakers at the event also highlighted JEAP’s contribution to mentorship and professional development, as well as his role in establishing structures within IPR Ghana, including its constitution, accreditation system, code of ethics and professional training programmes.
Director-General of SSNIT, Kwesi Afreh Biney, described JEAP, who served the institution for 37 years, as a “consummate professional and astute administrator” and pledged SSNIT’s continued support for the lecture.
“We will always be part of this conversation,” he said.
The Guest of Honour, Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, officially launched the initiative and stressed the enduring importance of ethics, professionalism and public trust in communication.
“Integrity will never become outdated. Truth will never become obsolete. Professional standards will never lose their value,” he said.
The Minister also announced plans for his office to partner with IPR Ghana to promote government communications practice and strengthen the capacity of young communication professionals and students.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of the APRA Visionary Leader Award plaque to the Allotey-Pappoe family. JEAP was posthumously honoured at APRA’s 50th Anniversary Conference in Mombasa, Kenya, in June 2025 for his contribution to the revival and development of the association.
SSNIT was the headline sponsor of the maiden lecture, with GRIDCo, Stratcomm Africa and ECG serving as partners.
