Published: 12 Jan 2017 Source: University Relations Office (URO)
At Multimedia Group, from left; Mr. Kwame Yeboah Jr., Miss Irene Sakyiwaa-Siaw and Saeed Ali Yaqub
As part of efforts to deepen the existing cordial relationship with the media and to familiarise with the operations of the media, the Public Relations Officer of the University has visited its media partners.
Kwame Yeboah Jr., the public relations officer of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology(KNUST) also known as the University Relations Officer accompanied by his team, visited the Daily Graphic, Multimedia Group, Kessben Media, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Ghana News Agency among others.
Irene Sakyiwaa-Siaw, the University Journalist, who is also in charge of Media Relations led Mr. Yeboah Jr. to meet editors and reporters of newsrooms and General Managers of selected media houses.
Briefing the Media, Miss Sakyiwaa-Siaw, stated that the KNUST recognises the role and contribution of its media partners in building the institution and the country as a whole. She continued that KNUST has enjoyed a good working relationship with the media over the years, making the institution more visible, a great brand and the preferred science and technology institution. She noted that through their reportage, the institution has managed crisis situations. The intention of the visit was to officially introduce and inform the media that Mr. Yeboah Jr., is the new head of the University Relations Office (URO), and is thus the official spokesperson of KNUST, who will respond to them on all issues. She appealed to them to work with him just as they did for the previous heads of the URO.
At Multimedia Group, Saeed Ali Yaqub, Editor, welcomed the URO boss and assured him of their continuous support to build stronger institutions. He said his reporters are doing a lot of work with researchers at KNUST. He however, noted that there a lot of information and knowledge at KNUST but these are not forthcoming to educate the public which is a challenge to the media.
Mr. Saeed said scientists disseminate in a technical language but it is journalists who break the language down for citizens to understand and called for openness and trust from academia.
On his part, Mr. Kwame Yeboah Jr. said the media is an indispensable partner in development and he had been informed of their enormous services to the University. He assured them of his support and availability to answer all queries they might have.
Mr. Yeboah Jr. remarked that it was the duty of academia to ensure that research got to the wider community for the development of the nation but sometimes research projects of immense benefit to the community were left to gather dust on the shelves. He assured the media that he would work hard to strengthen the existing collaboration between KNUST and the media especially on research uptake.
At Tv3 Network, Kofi Adu Domfeh, the Head of News for the Northern Sector, also pledged his outfits support to the new Relations Officer just as they did for his predecessors. He however challenged the university management to respond promptly on issues to ensure a balanced reportage. He hoped the new vice-chancellor would help improve on things professionally for mutual benefit.
Mr. Kwame Yeboah Jr. extended the felicitations of the Vice-Chancellor and management to them and stated that the University cherished the long-standing partnership with them.
He presented media partners with copies of the KNUST Research Report.
Mr. Kwame Yeboah Jr. assumed duty as the Acting Deputy Registrar in the University Relations Office in November, 2016. He took over from Mr. Vincent A. Ankamah-Lomotey. Mr. Kwame Yeboah Jr. until now was the Registrar of the College of Engineering.
He was accompanied by Jonathan Gyepi Attee, the University photographer and Mercy Harrison-Cudjoe.