Corporate Communications Manager for Vivo Energy Ghana, Shirley Tony Kum, has reiterated the importance of stakeholders in the communication cycle.
She explains no stakeholder is superior to the other, urging communicators to assess the needs of all stakeholders, responding to them with equal urgency.
Sharing her experience in the mining industry working with Newmont Ghana, she revealed she was part of the team working with the brand in its formative years.
In an interview with Y107.9FM’s Rev Erskine on the ‘Myd Morning Radio’ Show’s Y Leaderboard Series, she said, “It took some time for us to receive the EPA permit to start operations. Even after getting the permit, we needed the buy in of the people.”
In dealing with the stakeholders, the team crafted messages to meet the needs of the elite and illiterates. “Some of us were not used to speaking Twi but we had to learn the language. We sort to meet the needs of all stakeholders no matter who it was, giving equal prominence to them.”
The external relations arm of Newmont then, which Shirley was a part of revealed because of the priority given to stakeholders, they chased some of these groups to their churches and homes to educate them on what Newmont was set to do, and the benefits the people were going to enjoy to get their buy in.
Citing the importance of the exercise, she added, “We shouldn’t look down on people because without them, you cannot achieve your goal.”
By: Joel Sanco
