The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Publishing Company, Nana Kwasi Boatey, has dismissed claims by former Managing Director David Asante that the current administration is unfairly taking credit for the company’s transformation, describing the allegations as politically motivated.
The comments follow praise from President John Dramani Mahama for the current management of the state-owned publishing firm, which prompted a public response from Mr. Asante. The former CEO, who served between 2017 and 2024, argued that his tenure delivered unprecedented investment and growth, including a facelift of the company, the acquisition of modern equipment, and the introduction of new production systems.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News, Nana Kwasi Boatey said the remarks by the former Managing Director were largely politically driven. He stressed that while some progress was made under previous leadership, the current management is pursuing a different and more strategic form of transformation.
He maintained that upon assuming office, the company did not have a single digital printing machine, a situation he said constrained productivity and limited the firm’s competitiveness in the modern publishing space.
According to him, his administration has prioritised investment in machinery and staff welfare while also taking steps to stabilise the company’s finances.
“I think the former MD is just playing politics. I don’t know why he will do that. The company has seen a facelift, no doubt, and every leadership has its focus. When Mr. David Asante came, he decided that the company’s structures needed some additional facelift, so you realise that the bitumen saw some pavement blocks, the building saw some painting, because for him the outlook of the company was important—different focus.
“At the time, he didn’t think a digital press was important. I went there and I can tell you for a fact that there was not a single digital printing machine. I want to leave an ultramodern printing and publishing house by the time I leave, and how do you do that without machinery? I have focused on machinery and staff welfare. These are different focuses. When I went, the finances of the company were such that there was no liquidity,” he said.
Nana Kwasi Boatey emphasised that the current administration’s approach aims to position the Ghana Publishing Company as a modern, efficient, and financially stable publishing house capable of meeting contemporary industry demands.
