Assessing the Public Perception of Public Relations Practice with Insight from Selected Organizations in Ghana.

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to assess the public perception of public relations practice in Ghana. To achieve this objective, three were set forth which included finding out the public perception of public relations practice in Ghana, ascertaining whether the public perception of public relations practice in the selected organizations is positive or negative and exploring how the negative public perceptions of public relations in Ghana could be changed. In order to address these objectives, the study employed a mixed method approach from which questionnaire were employed to collected data from three hundred (300) respondents. The respondents were drawn from customers of ECG, Energy Commission and EPA, the organizations selected for the study. The findings of the study indicated that the overall public perception of public relations practice in Ghana was found to be positive. Also, the cumulative majority of responses indicated that the perception of public relations practice of the selected organizations was neutral. It was also found that the negative public perception of public relations could be changed by indulge in continuous stakeholder engagement activities, sensitization exercises among other suggestions. The study recommends that it is essential for organizations to consider incorporating periodic public perception surveys into their operations. Also, organizations should create an atmosphere where the public can reach out to them with feedback.