The Ghana Publishers Association (GPA) has sworn in its new executive.
The president of the 12-member executive council is Edward Yaw Udzu. He takes over from Asare Konadu Yamoah, who led the GPA for 10 years cumulatively and joins the new council as an ex officio member.
Others include the Vice President, Harriet Adelaide Tagoe; the Executive Secretary, Benjamin Tawiah Klu; the Secretary, Dan Kono Odei, and the Treasurer, Emmanuel Nyarko.
The rest are Dr Joseph Albert Quarm, Dr Francis Kofi Nimo Nunoo, Nana Kwasi Dankyi-Mensah, Emmanuel Boison, Stephen Brobbey and Nana Djan Amaniampong.
They were sworn in at the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Hall in Accra yesterday by a Circuit Court Judge, His Honour Kwabena Kodua Obiri-Yeboah.
Reforms
In his inaugural address, the President said his leadership was determined to drive growth and reform in the publishing industry to mitigate challenges faced by the association and its members.
Mr Udzu said Ghanaian publishers faced several challenges that had impacted their works over the years, including rising production costs, currency pressures, piracy, and limited market access.
He stressed that although the challenges were troubling, they also presented opportunities for collaboration and growth under his administration’s four strategic priorities –strong engagement with the government, building a resilient publishing ecosystem, protecting intellectual property, and capacity-building for members.
He added that the association was encouraged by the government’s commitment to education, as reflected in the 2026 National Budget Statement, which allocated GH₵3 billion to educational infrastructure and learning support interventions.
“We are encouraged by the Government’s commitment to education as reflected in the 2026 National Budget Statement, which allocates GH¢3.0 billion to educational infrastructure and learning support interventions.
“Of particular interest to publishers is the provision for the supply of books, including Kindergarten, Primary and JHS (3) textbooks, for millions of learners across the country,” he said.
Mr Udzu welcomed the government’s plan to supply textbooks but stressed the need for transparent procurement guidelines.
“The GPA welcomes this initiative.
It underscores the important role books play in improving learning outcomes and strengthening our educational system.
“However, as key stakeholders, we note that clear modalities for the selection and procurement of these books have yet to be communicated.
We respectfully stress the need for transparent, well-defined guidelines and timelines that ensure fairness, accountability, and value for money,” he said.
2030 Agenda
The former President of GPA, Mr Yamoah, expressed hope that by 2030, the country would be recognised as West Africa’s publishing powerhouse.
This, according to him, would help children learn from books that reflect their culture and inspire their future, with publishers leading in publishing innovations and reaching readers across Africa and beyond.
He urged the new executive to stay focused and build a publishing industry that empowers the classrooms, preserves the country’s heritage, and projects Ghanaian voices to the world.
“As Publishers, representing the Ghanaian Book Industry, we will stand proudly on the global stage.
We will continue to reflect tradition while embracing modern professionalism, ensuring education, culture, and creativity thrive together,” he said.
