Introduction

In a significant move for Ghana’s literary and educational landscape, the newly inaugurated President of the Ghana Publishers Association (GPA), Edward Yaw Udzu, has pledged a transformative leadership agenda. Speaking at the association’s handing-over ceremony at the GNAT Hall in Accra, Udzu outlined a focused strategy designed to revitalize the nation’s publishing sector. His vision moves beyond mere commercial interests, positioning publishing as a critical driver of sustainable national development, education, and cultural preservation.

With a background spanning over three decades in publishing, law, and development, President Udzu brings a wealth of experience to the role. His address highlighted the pressing challenges facing the industry—from rising production costs and currency instability to piracy—while simultaneously mapping out a pragmatic path toward reform. This article explores his four-point strategic plan, which aims to secure a robust policy framework, strengthen the publishing ecosystem, protect intellectual property, and enhance member capacity.

Key Points

Background

The inauguration of the new GPA Council on January 22 marks a pivotal moment for the industry. The ceremony, attended by stakeholders in the educational and publishing sectors, served as a platform for President Udzu to articulate his vision. He began by acknowledging the immense responsibility placed upon his shoulders, describing his election as both an honor and a solemn duty to the association’s members and the nation at large.

The Role of Publishing in National Development

President Udzu emphasized that publishing is not merely a business venture but the backbone of education, cultural preservation, and information transmission. He argued that no nation can achieve lasting educational investment without a planned business model for its book digital tools, authors, and information systems. This perspective reframes the conversation from simple commerce to national asset allocation, highlighting the industry’s role in shaping minds and transmitting values across generations.

Current Industry Challenges

Addressing the “tough realities” confronting Ghanaian publishers, the President listed several hurdles:

• Rising Production Costs: Inflation and global supply chain issues.
• Currency Instability: Fluctuations affecting the importation of printing materials.
• Piracy: The unauthorized reproduction of books, which undermines revenue.
• Limited Access to Capital: Difficulty in securing funding for business expansion.
• Technological Demands: The need to innovate amidst evolving educational and technological requirements.

Despite these challenges, Udzu maintains an optimistic outlook, viewing them as opportunities for reform and collaborative progress.

Analysis

President Udzu’s four-point agenda represents a strategic consolidation of the association’s goals. By reducing the previous seven-point agenda to four, the leadership signals a shift from broad intentions to focused execution. This analysis breaks down the core components of his strategy.

1. Strengthening Government Engagement and Policy

The first priority is the most critical for the sector’s sustainability: sustained engagement with the government. The GPA intends to advocate for a clear, predictable national policy regarding the periodic acquisition of books for public colleges, libraries, and state institutions.

The President specifically referenced the 2026 national budget statement, which allocates GH¢3 billion to educational infrastructure. While welcoming this investment, he highlighted a gap in the process: the lack of transparent modalities for the selection and procurement of textbooks for kindergarten, primary, and Junior High School (JHS) learners.

Strategic Implication: A transparent procurement process is essential. It ensures equity, accountability, and value for money. More importantly, a structured policy creates a sustainable local revenue stream, allowing publishers to reinvest in quality content. Furthermore, the association plans to lobby for tax breaks and reduced import duties on printing materials to lower production costs.

2. Building a Resilient Publishing Ecosystem

The second priority focuses on ecosystem development. This involves fostering partnerships with educational institutions, development partners, multinational publishing bodies, and digital platforms.

Print and Digital Synergy: Unlike approaches that view digital as a replacement for print, Udzu’s administration positions both as complementary tools. This is pedagogically sound, as different learners in Ghana may require different formats depending on infrastructure access. The goal is to encourage value-chain development, ensuring that opportunities exist for authors, editors, printers, and distributors alike.

3. Protecting Intellectual Property (IP)

Piracy remains a cancer to the publishing industry. The third priority is a rigorous defense of intellectual property rights. The GPA plans to collaborate closely with ReplicaGhana (the Reproduction Rights Organisation in Ghana), law enforcement agencies, and other state institutions.

Enforcement and Education: The strategy is two-pronged. First, stronger enforcement mechanisms to catch and prosecute infringers. Second, public education campaigns to inform the public about the value of paying for creative work. Without robust IP protection, the incentive for authors to create and publishers to invest diminishes, stalling cultural and educational growth.

4. Capacity Building and Member Growth

The final pillar addresses internal capabilities. A strong association must deliver tangible value to its members. This involves continuous training, professional development, and providing access to market intelligence.

Given the rapid evolution of digital tools and global market trends, Ghanaian publishers need to stay competitive. Capacity building ensures that local publishers are not just surviving but thriving in both local and African markets.

Practical Advice

For stakeholders in the publishing and education sectors, President Udzu’s agenda offers several actionable takeaways:

For Publishers and Authors

• Engage with the GPA: Active membership can provide access to the proposed training and market intelligence programs.
• Document IP Rigorously: With the focus on anti-piracy, ensure all works are properly registered and documented to facilitate legal protection.
• Diversify Formats: Begin exploring hybrid publishing models (print and digital) to align with the association’s new ecosystem strategy.

For Government and Procurement Bodies

• Establish Clear Timelines: As requested by the GPA, transparent procurement calendars allow publishers to plan production schedules effectively.
• Review Tax Policies: Consider the impact of import duties on printing materials. Reducing these costs can lower textbook prices, benefiting the education sector.

For Educational Institutions

• Advocate for Local Content: Schools should support the use of locally produced content that reflects Ghanaian culture and context, which is often more relatable for students.
• Report Piracy: Educational institutions play a key role in identifying and reporting the use of pirated materials.

FAQ

Conclusion

The inauguration of Edward Yaw Udzu as the President of the Ghana Publishers Association signals a new era of focused advocacy and strategic development. By narrowing the agenda to four critical pillars—government engagement, ecosystem resilience, IP protection, and capacity building—the GPA is positioning itself to tackle the structural challenges head-on.

For the Ghanaian publishing industry to thrive, collaboration is essential. As President Udzu stated, “The future of our industry depends on unity of purpose.” By working together, stakeholders can build a publishing sector that not only sustains itself economically but also drives educational outcomes and cultural preservation for generations to come.

Sources

• Life Pulse Daily. (2026, January 22). New GPA President pledges reform, more potent govt engagement and digital tools renewal.
• Ghana Publishers Association. (2026). Inauguration of New Council Speech.
• Government of Ghana. (2026). Budget Statement and Economic Policy.