ISD restructures operations to strengthen public engagement and government information dissemination

The Information Services Department (ISD) is undertaking a major internal restructuring as part of efforts to strengthen public engagement and attract greater external support at a time when effective governance increasingly depends on strategic communication.

Speaking at a management retreat held in the Eastern Region on Friday, the Acting Director of the ISD, Dr Winifred Nafisa Mahama, said the department, as the government's primary communication arm, is facing growing expectations and responsibilities.

“Communication is at the heart of governance today. We must first put our own house in order. When our foundation is strong and secure, we can confidently seek external support, knowing that our institutional integrity will remain intact,” she said.

She explained that the department is deliberately moving away from traditional, rigid approaches to government communication in favour of a more modern and people-centred strategy. The aim, she said, is to make state communication more accessible, engaging, and relevant to the everyday lives of citizens.

Dr Mahama also praised Regional Information Officers for successfully live-streaming Ghana’s first match of the ongoing World Cup tournament using the department's newly acquired digital LED vans across various districts.

“People were reaching out to ask about those vibrant broadcasts, and I told them, ‘That is the new ISD in action.’ We are bringing both important public information and entertainment directly to the people,” she noted.

Commending the regional information officers for their performance during the match broadcast, Dr Mahama described the initiative as a model for the future direction of the department.

“The success of this broadcast shows what is possible when we innovate and connect with people where they are. Our citizens are out there, and they must feel our presence,” she said.