Junior Graphic marks 25th milestone

Junior Graphic, the flagship children-centred newspaper of the Graphic Communications Group Ltd, has marked its silver jubilee with learners of the Ministry of Health (MoH) Basic School in Accra.

It was a momentous cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate 25 years of the paper’s existence and to acknowledge the efforts of major stakeholders, including teachers and young learners, whose patronage has sustained it over the period.

Amid singing and dancing, the schoolchildren had the rare privilege of meeting the Editor, Graphic, Theophilus Yartey; the acting Head of Corporate Communications, GGCL, Mavis Kyerewaa Boateng; the Editor, Junior Graphic, Hannah Acheampong Amoah, and the Assistant Editor of Junior Graphic, Eugenia Asare Tandoh, together with the entire team behind the weekly publication of the Junior Graphic.

Mr Yartey thanked the management of the MoH for the opportunity to celebrate the significant milestone of the brand with learners of the school.

He encouraged young learners to continue to patronise the paper and to take a keen interest in participating in the yearly Junior Graphic National Essay Competition (JGNEC) organised for young learners across the country to whip up their interest in reading and to improve their writing skills.

“Participate in the competition and stand a chance of meeting with the President. Continue to take your studies seriously to make your parents proud,” he said.

History

Recounting history, the Editor of Junior Graphic said the paper was reintroduced on September 6, 2000, to promote children’s health and well-being, and to highlight the needs of young learners and schools, especially in deprived communities.

“After 25 years, the Junior Graphic remains the only newspaper in Ghana that serves the needs of children weekly.

Although a number of children’s newspapers sprang up, they could not survive,” she said.

She stated that new columns and emergency helplines had been introduced in the paper, while fan clubs had been formed in schools across the country to develop students’ interest in reading and sharpen their writing skills.

Mrs Amoah further applauded the MoH for being one of the biggest subscribers to the paper and encouraged the schoolchildren to read it more to broaden their horizons.

“Junior Graphic has organised competitions such as the Junior Graphic National Essay Competitions and awarded prizes to children who excelled each year.

Some of our award winners have attended the UN General Assembly in New York with the former President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

So you see, we have, indeed, served young learners of Ghana,” she added.