Graphic commended for maintaining quality

Some stakeholders and dignitaries have commended the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) for remaining consistent and exhibiting a high sense of professionalism as it strives to remain market leaders in the industry.

They said despite the challenges the industry was facing globally, Graphic had remained true to its mantra of “Truth and Accuracy” as it continues to play a key role in national development.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic on the sidelines of the launch of the 70th anniversary of the GCGL last Monday, they congratulated the company on its anniversary and for being the largest newspaper publishing company in Ghana.

The anniversary is on the theme: “Seven decades of influencing national development and building brands.”

Dignitaries

The personalities included the Minister of Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah; the Rector of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), Professor Kwansah-Aidoo; the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Affail Monney, and a Commissioner of Police (COP) and Director, General Welfare, Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah.

Digitising Graphic

The Minister of Information praised the company for its bold step in adopting the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) to remain in business.

“I think today the challenges of the print media are glaring for us to see. It is a good thing that Graphic has embraced information technology in its operations, but they need to do more in order not to be left behind.

“All we look forward to seeing the GCGL do in the next 70 years is how it can broaden its digital portfolio and penetrate the digital market with some more aggression,” he said.

Training grounds

Professor Kwansah-Aidoo

Professor Kwansah-Aidoo also commended Graphic for maintaining a good brand over the years and being a partner in the training of journalists.

“Graphic has been a great partner in training budding journalists as many students from GIJ on their way to becoming good journalists come to Graphic for their internship and later excel in their practice.

“Personally, my interest in journalism was from Graphic, so at some point growing up, Graphic was synonymous with newspapers. All the key people I know in journalism are from Graphic.

“My expectation for the company is for it to continue to be the leader in good journalism practice in the country,” he said.

The Rector added that, ‘although the brand stands out, Graphic should maintain its industry leadership role and find ways to be vibrant online,” he said.

Stick to mantra

Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah

Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, encouraged the Daily Graphic to stick to its mantra of ‘Truth and Accuracy’ despite efforts to change to reflect the new trends in the industry.

“It’s good that the paper is moving with the trends and in the coming years I expect the GCGL’s headlines to reflect the news.

“The GCGL should not just pick information from other media portals because once that information is wrong and it gets out it gets difficult to take it back and that will be a blot on its enviable mantra of truth and accuracy,” she said.

COP Tiwaa Addo-Danquah also lauded the GCGL for being a partner and leader in informing the general public about security issues.

“I remember when the Inspector General Police (IGP) visited the GCGL during Christmas, what was supposed to be a conversation with the company and its staff was well circulated and it became a security tip for everyone.

“People became conscious of their environment, especially, during Christmas activities and I guess it helped minimise the incidence of crime experienced during such festive occasions,” she added

“Over the years, Graphic has been a great partner of the police in reaching out to people on issues of safety and security and we expect that bond to even grow stronger because we both have crucial roles to play in that regard,” the former Director-General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) added.

Quality input, quality outcome

Mr Roland Affail Monney 

For his part, Mr Roland Affail Monney acknowledged that Graphic had succeeded in maintaining its position as the leading newspaper through the quality of their work and not just by happenstance.

“Graphic makes a conscious effort to invest in quality journalism and this shows in their output and leading position in the newspaper industry,” he said.

Mr Monney said having set themselves apart by quality work, efficiency and professionalism in the past 70 years, those same ethics should be maintained as the brand sought to grow from strength to strength and continue to model the way for other newspapers in the industry.