The Ghana Publishers Association (GPA) has launched activities to mark its 50th anniversary, with a call on stakeholders to strengthen indigenous publishing, protect Ghanaian intellectual property and promote locally produced books to support national development.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to preserving Ghanaian stories, strengthening the publishing industry and shaping the country’s intellectual future.
The launch formed part of activities marking the Golden Jubilee of the association, which was established on March 10, 1976.
Held on the theme: “50 Years of Indigenous Book Publishing: Our Stories, Our Future”, the event highlighted the role of indigenous publishing in preserving cultural heritage, strengthening education and amplifying Ghanaian voices.
It brought together publishers, government officials, development partners, educators, authors and members of the media to reflect on the association’s achievements and chart a new direction for the publishing industry.
Celebrating five decades
Speaking at last Tuesday’s launch, the Vice-President of the GPA and Chief Executive Officer of Afram Publishers Limited, Harriet Adelaide Tagoe, described the anniversary as a historic milestone for Ghana’s publishing industry.
She explained that the association was founded five decades ago by visionary entrepreneurs who shared a common commitment to promoting, protecting and strengthening indigenous publishing in the country.
She said through resilience, innovation and dedication, the pioneers of the association laid a solid foundation that had sustained and advanced the country’s publishing industry over the years.
Ms Tagoe added that the Golden Jubilee was not only an opportunity to celebrate the past but also a moment to reflect on the association’s journey and plan for the future.
Cultural responsibility
Ms Tagoe emphasised that indigenous publishing was not merely a commercial venture but a national and cultural responsibility.
“Indigenous publishing is more than a business.
It is a cultural responsibility. It is about preserving our heritage, shaping national identity, amplifying Ghanaian voices, educating our children and ensuring that our stories are told by us and for us,” she stated.
Despite challenges and technological changes in the global publishing landscape, she said the association had remained resilient and innovative.
“The theme reminds us that our stories are powerful.
They educate, inspire and transform.
They connect generations and preserve history,” Ms Tagoe added.
Stories, future
The President of the Ghana Publishers Association, Edward Yaw Udzu, said the anniversary represented an important milestone in the country’s intellectual and cultural journey.
“Today is not merely the launch of an anniversary celebration.
Today marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s intellectual and cultural journey,” he said.
Mr Udzu said Ghanaian publishers had contributed significantly to preserving the country’s languages, traditions and historical memory through textbooks, novels, biographies, academic works and children’s literature.
“When Ghanaian children read books written by Ghanaian authors and published by Ghanaian publishers, they do more than read stories.
They discover themselves, they understand their history and they begin to imagine their future,” he said.
UNESCO’s perspective
The UNESCO Country Director, Edmond Moukala, described the celebration as a landmark moment in Ghana’s cultural history.
“Fifty years of dedication to the written word is not just a corporate anniversary; it is a celebration of the preservation of the Ghanaian soul and the strengthening of its intellectual sovereignty,” he said.
Mr Moukala emphasised that books remained powerful tools for the dissemination of knowledge and the promotion of cultural identity.
“As we reflect on 50 years of indigenous publishing, we must recognise that books represent the front line of intellectual decolonisation,” he said.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
