The University Relations Officer (URO)of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (), Kumasihas issued a strong directive to website managers, student bloggers, and Public Relations Officers (PROs) across the University’s colleges and student groups to actively protect and promote the institution’s reputation through the responsible use of Social Media.
Delivering this charge at a two-day capacity-building workshop,Dr. Daniel Norris Bekoe, emphasised the strategic role of student communicators in shaping public perception about . He warned that the University will not hesitate to sanction any student who publishes false, misleading, or defamatory content that brings into disrepute.
The workshop, themed “Safe Blogging and Crisis Sensitivity: The Role of Bloggers”, focused on empowering participants with practical digital communication skills, ethical content creation techniques, and the principles of responsible social media use within a university environment. Dr. Bekoe underscored the ethical obligations of digital communicators, urging participants to lead ’s storytelling with truth, empathy, and respect.
“The internet is a free space, but freedom comes with responsibility. As bloggers and media leads, your posts shape perception. Verify before you amplify. Consult official sources. Let your tone be neutral but empathetic,” he advised.
He cautioned against sensationalism, stressing that many damaging narratives often begin internally before being magnified by external sources. He urged student communicators to shift from a crisis-reaction mindset to a proactive, agenda-setting role that highlights the University’s many successes. “You have the power to shape narratives. Let’s use it to promote, not destroy. Let’s amplify the good stories of ,” Dr. Bekoe declared.
Also addressing participants was Dr. Daniel Nkrumah, Lecturer in the Department of Language and Communication Sciences, who emphasised the need for professional news-gathering practices. He reminded bloggers that not all information is newsworthy and warned against the dangers of manipulated content.
“Your first point of reference for any critical information should be the University Relations Office. Be deliberate, be honest, and write with impact, use strategic headlines, hashtags, and hooks that carry weight and meaning,” he urged. He encouraged student bloggers to be bold advocates for truth, pointing out that protecting ’s reputation is a shared responsibility.
Contributing to the session, Mr. Samuel Kwadwo Jantuah, a seasoned media practitioner and Manager of Focus FM (), delivered a practical presentation on fact-checking and digital literacy. Using the World Health Organisation’s 5-step fact-checking model, he demonstrated techniques such as reverse image search, metadata verification, and consulting expert sources before sharing content.
“As content creators, you influence what people believe. That is power. Use it wisely,” Mr. Jantuah cautioned. “Be the credible voice in the noise. Don’t just post, validate, verify, and think through the impact of your words.”
He encouraged collaboration with the URO office to ensure alignment in messaging and content credibility.
