Accra, March 19, GNA – The Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), has launched the 2020 edition of the reintroduced Ghana Yearbook (GYB).
The Yearbook is an annual publication chronicling important historical events as well as business information about the country.
The 313-page book was launched by Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, who also took a copy for GH¢20,000.00 to support the cost of production.
Other initial copies were auctioned at prices ranging from GH¢5,000.00 to GH¢12,000.00.
The book is said to be available at book shops or at offices of the GCGL across the country at GH¢120.000.00.
Key events captured in the book include the swearing in of the fifth President of the Fourth Republic, the election of the first Speaker of Parliament from an opposition party, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, the demise of His Excellency J. J Rawlings, the 2020 Elections, and Graphic@ 70 Anniversary.
It also captures historical dates, facts about Ghana, corporate information on companies and government institutions, with each chapter presenting a theme with adequate information to readers, connecting them to the county’s history to fill the existing gap, while selling Ghana to the international world.
Mr Bagbin commended the Board, Management and staff of the GCGL, for the great initiative of bringing back onto the shelves the annual publication, which was very popular in the 1950s through the 1970s.
He also acknowledged the Rt. Rev. Aaron Mike Oquaye, the former Speaker of Parliament, for his persistence and support for the reintroduction of “this important reference book,” and further applauded the GCGL for holding its head high throughout its 70 years of existence as a pace setter, with high quality contents of its diverse news publications channels.
Mr Bagbin said the reintroduction of GYB, was very welcoming considering the fact that it captured important historical events and provided a wide range of information from all state institutions as well as contacts of political actors and policy makers, and served as an authentic reference material for both young and old, entrepreneurs and academics.
He spoke about the enormous power of the media, especially in controlling the minds of people and called for a shift in the current dimension of media contents that over-focused on political characters, and relegating other important issues including the Ghanaian culture, values, principles and history to the background.
The Speaker said, “The state of the media is a reflection of the state in which it finds itself,” therefore it was important to work towards unleashing the power of the media to shape society to ensure such shift, where their efforts would cut across the provision of information on government policies and decisions, to capturing key historical events to fill the void to serve both the present and future generations.
He encouraged high ethical standards among journalists, and the need for regular capacity building of media personnel for specialisation in key areas such as parliamentary reporting, to ensure distinctive delivery of information.
Mr Bagbin, therefore, appealed to media heads and news editors to help maintain consistency by desisting from recalling reporters back into the newsroom shortly after they had undergone such training, saying “this is a disincentive to training delivery and discouraging.”
Mr Ato Afful, the Managing Director, GCGL, thanked all who had worked tirelessly and contributed in diverse ways to make the dream of reintroducing the annual GYB a reality, explaining that since the last edition in the late 1970s, those who lived the unforgettable experience of reading the annual chronicled publications of events in the country, had never stopped wishing for the valuable information it gave them, neither did they cease urging the Graphic to bring it back.
He said the call had been more persistent especially “in the era where social media, abound with sometimes unverified user generated contents, is adulterating information and tainting records, which otherwise should help us keep accurate track of our contemporary history”.
Mr Afful said GYB had maintained the quality that endeared it to its readers, with improved content to capture the nation’s events as they unfolded in the previous year.
He appealed for donations from its corporate partners and all stakeholders to support the annual publication with constant advertising to ensure its sustenance.
GNA