A Justice of the Supreme Court, Dennis Dominic Adjei, has called on the Ghana Publishers Association (GPA) to fully utilize the 2005 National Book Policy to strengthen and expand the local publishing and printing industry. He highlighted that the policy is designed to support local publishers, encourage industrial growth, and could significantly transform the sector if effectively implemented.
“As part of the policy, the government reserves textbook contracts for local publishers and printers to boost local industry, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth. The policy mandates that government textbooks be awarded 100% to local industries and gives them priority in production,” Justice Adjei stated.
He made the remarks at the 49th Annual General Meeting of the GPA in Accra, emphasizing that the excessive politicization of government contracts has hindered the growth of the industry.
“When you produce textbooks, do they buy? When they buy, when are payments made? Are contracts influenced by political affiliation? These are issues the GPA should collectively address. Ghana is for all,” he said.
Justice Adjei, an experienced publisher himself, stressed the critical role of the industry in supporting the government’s literacy and education initiatives.
“The government aims to promote education through formal and informal channels. We in the industry assist this effort because without books, even the best teachers cannot succeed. Strengthening publishing is key to improving literacy rates,” he noted.
He encouraged the GPA to collaborate across the publishing ecosystem to enhance productivity and efficiency, foster skill-sharing, and produce high-quality content that meets market demands.
Capacity building within local industries was also highlighted as essential to improve product quality and enable competition with foreign publishers.
Supporting the call, UNESCO Ghana’s National Programme Officer, Carl Ampah, emphasized that publishing underpins cultural expression, literacy, and lifelong learning. He noted that coherent policies such as the National Book Policy, National Reading Policy, and Textbook Procurement Policy are vital for creating a resilient publishing sector that drives national development.
“When aligned with education reforms, these policies can promote cultural diversity, stimulate the creative economy, and enhance global competitiveness,” Ampah said.
He also cited the economic potential of the publishing sector, pointing out that in the UK, books and journals contribute £7.8 billion to the economy and support 70,000 jobs. Across Africa, the sector represents 5.4% of global publishing revenue, which could grow to $18.5 billion with sound reforms.
Finally, Mr. Peprah stressed the importance of a national book policy in linking authors, publishers, printers, booksellers, and libraries, while advocating for transparent standards for copyright and intellectual property to protect creators, promote innovation, and foster local content.
