Graphic outdoors new Board of Directors
A nine-member Board of Directors for the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), has been inaugurated with a charge to ensure prudent financial management and guarantee the sustainability of the company.
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The chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Kabral Blay-Amihere, who told the new board of the enormous responsibility that comes with their engagement, said guaranteeing the sustainability of the state-owned media was a pre-requisite for their independence.
He listed a litany of expectations and duties, some constitutionally mandated and others peculiar to Graphic, that the Board must execute successfully to make the Board members “legends and celebrities in their own right when it comes to writing the history of Graphic and Ghana’s democracy”.
He said staff welfare and promotion of industrial harmony, promotion and protection of the independence of journalists, the promotion of press freedom and the insulation of the state-owned media from any governmental interference, as well as steps to recover debts owed the company by advertising agencies, MDAs and MMDAs are some of the issues that should engage them.
The new board is chaired by Professor K.B. Omane-Antwi, Vice Rector and Dean of Graduate School, Pentecost University College, and National President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana. Other members are Hajj Mohammed Nii Kpakpo Addo, Principal Research Officer of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice; Dr. Eric Oduro Osae, a Chartered Accountant, lawyer and corporate governance expert; Mr. Akwasi Owusu Agyeman, MD of e.TV and president of Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association.
The others are Mr. Emmanuel Anyang Abeka, an academic, socio-economist and planning consultant; Ms Elaine Sam Kwami, renowned Public Relations Practitioner; Mrs Joyce Ossei Agyekum, an educational consultant; Mr. Solomon Twum Barimah, Head of Risk Management and Claims at Imperial General Insurance Company. He is also a Lawyer, an Engineer, Chartered Insurer and Loss Adjuster; and GCGL Managing Director, Kenneth Ashigbey.
Kabral praised the previous board chaired by Dr Doris Yaa Dartey for dedicated service and for managing in two years of office, to lay a solid foundation on which their successors can raise the fortunes of Graphic. He welcomed the new Board and pledged the support of the NMC. [Read Kabral's address in full]
“I urge members to read Chapter 12 of the Constitution that clearly outlines the rules of engagement for the media and charges the NMC among other things to defend and promote press freedom, insulate the state-owned media from any governmental interference.
“It is a duty that the NMC is asking the boards to undertake on its behalf- to ensure that the state owned media are truly free and independent and faithfully represent the voices of all Ghanaians and all parties and are not subject to external political influences.
“As a board which shall be in place during the crucial election year of 2016, your duty shall be to ensure that right from today Graphic and all its publications abide by what Article 163 of the Constitution demands of the state-owned media- to afford fair opportunities and facilities for all divergent views and dissenting opinions,” he said.
GCGL MD, Kenneth Ashigbey
The Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, Mr. Kenneth Ashigbey, underscored the resolve of the company to maintain its leadership position and expand its frontiers in an industry he said has become very competitive, challenging and highly unpredictable.
“Let me, therefore, assure all gathered here that we are a determined company of committed and dedicated staff willing not only to achieve set targets and meet stakeholder expectations, but to exceed them. For that reason it is no wonder, that the company remains the only state-owned media organisation that pays dividends to the state on annual basis. We are sure with the support of the incoming Board, the NMC and other stakeholders we will be able to do better and continue to give value to all stakeholders and deliver value.” [Read Ken Ashigbey's address in full]
Mr. Ashigbey also praised members of the previous board for their contributions to the growth of Graphic and promised that working with the new board, the company was resolved to continue to deliver on that mandate of holding leadership to account as well as opening up the papers to all shades of opinion.
He also said that Graphic will ensure a comprehensive coverage of the entire 2016 elections process and thus contribute to the deepening of democracy in Ghana.
New Board Chairman
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The new Board Chairman, Professor K.B. Omane-Antwi, Vice Rector and Dean of Graduate School, Pentecost University College, said the Board would endeavor to represent stakeholders with the utmost transparency and boldness.
He said he had observed GCGL from afar and was convinced it had helped to shape the future of Ghana. He also observed that success is not a destination but rather a journey with its path changing constantly, for which GCGL needed to continue to consistently produce winning strategies.
He called for the re-examination of GCGL’s strategic direction in this technological revolution era, saying “We will need a big cultural shift which will involve structural change so as to reshape Graphic Communications Group for the digital age.”
He said; “Today, we need to be prepared to serve the digital platform first and newspaper second. That is the speed of change. Change has come and change is inevitable. It will not be an easy change or transition but we are obliged to take the difficult steps to secure our leadership position in the print media. Graphic Communication Group must move forward. It would be reckless to stand still. Of course, we must stick to the tested practices of good journalism; deep and original reporting based on multiple sources and a sharp eye for the scoop. That is the hallmark of Graphic Communication Group which we must maintain going forward.” [Read Prof Omane-Antwi's address in full]
Professor Omane-Antwi, said the Board would seek continuous innovation and help build business models and operations that would deliver results – “achieving Graphic Communications' vision through the provision of high quality context and services that will ensure the GCGL is valued by the community as Ghana's most trusted and creative media organization.”
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Present at the ceremony were members of the NMC, management and staff of the GCGL and representatives of other media houses.
