Ghana’s Esther Cobbah becomes first African President of International Public Relations Association

Ghanaian communications expert Esther Ambah Numaba Cobbah has been elected President of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), becoming the first African to lead the 70-year-old global body.

The announcement was made by the Institute of Public Relations (IPR), Ghana, which described her election as a landmark achievement for the continent and a testament to her extraordinary leadership in communications. Headquartered in London, IPRA is recognised as the world’s leading network for public relations professionals.

Ms Cobbah is the Founder and Chief Executive of Strategic Communications Africa Ltd (Stratcomm Africa), an award-winning agency she has led for more than three decades. Her career has been marked by both local and international accolades, including the CIMG Marketing Woman of the Year in 2012, IPR Ghana’s PR Personality of the Year in 2013, and Outstanding Woman of the Year at the GOWA Awards in 2022. In 2015, PRNews USA named her among the 50 top women in PR, while Stratcomm Africa received the IPRA United Nations Award for PR and Sustainable Development in 2016.

She has also served as a judge for IPRA’s Golden World Awards, the association’s flagship global recognition for excellence in public relations, and for the past four years has been the only African on IPRA’s Governing Board.

“We at IPR, Ghana are immensely proud of this achievement,” said Peter Martey Agbeko, Chair of the IPR, Ghana International Relations Committee. “Esther Cobbah's leadership is a beacon for Africa and for professional communicators across the world. Her rise to this global position is both historic and inspirational.”

Educated at Wesley Girls’ High School, the University of Ghana, and Cornell University in the United States, Ms Cobbah has long been recognised for her commitment to ethical communication and professional excellence. Stratcomm Africa, which she established more than 31 years ago, has become a leading player in Africa’s communications industry.

Her presidency is expected to herald greater inclusion, global collaboration, and innovation in the practice of public relations worldwide.