Vivo Energy Ghana’s Shirley Tony Kum Named PR Personality of the Year at IPR Excellence Awards
Ghana’s public relations industry has celebrated one of its defining moments as Shirley Tony Kum, Corporate Communications Manager at Vivo Energy Ghana, was adjudged Public Relations Personality of the Year at the 2024 PR Excellence Awards, the highest individual honour conferred by the Institute of Public Relations (IPR), Ghana.
The award, keenly contested among leading industry professionals, recognises Shirley’s transformational leadership, strategic communication expertise and sustained impact across the energy and extractive sectors.
In an emotional acceptance speech, she reflected on her two-decade journey across Ghana’s communications landscape.
“From Stratcomm Africa, Newmont to Vivo Energy, among others, to my present position at Vivo, I have learnt the task of using customer insights to create measurable impacts,” she said, expressing appreciation to mentors, colleagues, and mentees who had shaped her path.
Two decades of strategic communication leadership
Shirley’s career spans media, mining, public service and petroleum communications, with experience at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Stratcomm Africa, and Newmont Golden Ridge Limited. Her reputation as one of Ghana’s most versatile communications leaders is anchored in her ability to combine discipline, research, and strategic insight in advancing corporate communication.
At Vivo Energy Ghana, licensee of the Shell brand, she has repositioned communications as a strategic business enabler—deploying data-driven insights, stakeholder mapping and integrated storytelling to influence customer behaviour, strengthen public trust and enhance corporate reputation in a highly regulated environment.
Her efforts have helped consolidate Vivo Energy’s image as a responsible and community-driven brand, with measurable gains in brand equity.
Award-winning campaigns and 360-degree communication
Shirley’s leadership has produced multiple award-winning campaigns in safety, sustainability, environment, road safety and community development. Her holistic approach to stakeholder engagement—often described as “360-degree communication”—ensures message consistency across all public touchpoints.
Her expertise in crisis communication, regulatory affairs and public participation processes has also been central to sustaining reputational stability for Vivo Energy Ghana during industry-wide pressures.
Championing women and nurturing talent
Beyond her corporate role, she leads the acclaimed ShePower Project, a mentorship initiative dedicated to empowering women in communications and the energy sector. She is widely regarded as a mentor and advocate for young professionals seeking growth in the field.
Her contributions to national communication efforts include service as a member of the Government’s COVID-19 Communications Team. She has also held governance roles within IPR Ghana and sits on the Governing Council of the African University of Communications and Business.
A product of the University of Ghana, the University of Leicester (UK), and the Ghana Institute of Journalism (now UNIMAC-GIJ), Shirley is an Accredited Member of IPR and a member of Women in PR Ghana.
Industry celebrates excellence
This year’s awards also conferred honours on several distinguished personalities and organisations. Professor Kojo Yankah received the Lifetime Achievement Award, while Dr Ekow Spio-Garbrah was named PR Legend of the Year.
Kenneth Adam emerged PR Discovery of the Year, UPSA won Best Student Chapter, and Leonard Yert was adjudged Most Outstanding Agency.
Vivo Energy Ghana secured multiple honours, including PR Organisation of the Year and Best Promotional Events Organiser. Other awardees included the Ministry of Roads and Highways (Public Sector PR), MTN (Telecommunications), Karpowership (Energy & Utilities), Stratcomm Africa (Environment & Climate Communication), the GRA (Digital & Social Media Campaign) and WaterAid (Non-Profit Sector Communication).
Speaking at the ceremony, President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Nana Kobina Nketsia V, urged communicators to deploy public relations as a force for national development.
“Shape the minds of the public towards one development cause of nation-building… let public relations work well for the holistic growth of Ghana,” he said.
This year’s event, hosted in the Western Region, highlighted the profession’s growing strategic relevance and celebrated individuals and institutions that continue to raise standards in Ghana’s communications industry.
