The Association’s mission centres on uniting publishers, building technical capacity, and promoting national literacy.

The Ghana Publishers Association (GPA) marked its golden jubilee on 10 March, with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) commending five decades of indigenous publishing leadership.

The anniversary launch, held at the Ghana Press Centre in Accra, celebrated the theme “50 Years of Indigenous Book Publishing: Our Stories, Our Future.”

From Colonial Legacy to Indigenous Enterprise

The GPA’s origins trace to 1973, when membership comprised primarily local representatives of British publishing multinationals. The Association formally registered on 10 March 1976, emerging from a pivotal policy shift under the Acheampong regime requiring foreign publishing houses to be Ghanaian-headed. This transformation catalysed the development of truly indigenous publishing capacity.

The indigenous publishing movement itself has deeper roots. The concept was first envisioned in the 1950s when Afram Publications pioneered locally-produced African content for Ghanaian readers.

Curriculum Partnership and Educational Impact

Eric Amoah, NaCCA’s Deputy Director-General for Technical Services, delivered a message emphasising the symbiotic relationship between publishers and national education objectives: “Curriculum is incomplete without quality books that bring learning to life.”

The NaCCA’s role as statutory curriculum developer positions it as a critical interface between educational policy and publishing output. The 2019 introduction of new primary syllabi – with just five months for publishers to develop, submit, and gain approval for textbooks – demonstrates the demanding pace of this partnership.

Government procurement now secures three textbooks per subject, significantly expanding market opportunities for local houses.

The View From The Beach

While celebrating print achievements, speakers emphasised digital imperatives. “The digital age presents new avenues for publishing, distribution and access,” Amoah noted, whilst stressing the need to preserve authentic cultural narratives amidst technological change.

This dual challenge – embracing digitisation whilst maintaining indigenous storytelling authenticity – defines the sector’s next phase.

Publishing Infrastructure and Professional Development

Beyond textbook production, the GPA advances industry capacity through the Ghana International Book Fair, inter-school debate competitions, and professional training schemes.

The Association’s mission centres on uniting publishers, building technical capacity, and promoting national literacy.

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.