The Ghana Publishing Company Limited has dismissed claims by its former Managing Director, David Asante, and defended President John Dramani Mahama’s recent remarks praising the company’s turnaround.
President Mahama visited GPCL on Thursday, January 8, 2026, the day after marking his first anniversary in office, to assess the company’s operations and ongoing reforms.
The visit, described as historic, was the first by a sitting president to the company under the Fourth Republic. After receiving a briefing on GPCL’s finances and reform efforts, the President commended the current management and board for restoring confidence in the institution.
Mr. Asante, who led the company from 2017, later took to social media claiming credit for the turnaround and suggesting the President had overlooked his contributions.
In a statement issued by its Corporate Affairs Department, GPCL called the former MD’s claims “misleading and self-serving.”
The company said that Mr. Asante inherited a fully functional operation from his predecessor, David Dzreke, who managed GPCL from 2010 to 2017, including printing equipment, vehicles, and significant cash reserves.
GPCL noted that some of these assets fell into disrepair under Mr. Asante’s tenure and that he failed to publicly acknowledge his predecessor’s role.
The company also disputed assertions that equipment purchased during Mr. Asante’s tenure was central to its recovery, pointing out that a key press remained unusable despite costly repairs.
GPCL clarified that contracts for ballot paper printing, including for the 2016 elections, were secured under Mr. Dzreke’s leadership, with payments received during Mr. Asante’s term.
GPCL further rejected claims regarding branch profitability, government debt settlements, and recent asset increases.
The company emphasized that its current revenue comes largely from payments by the Electoral Commission and noted it is still servicing a tax liability exceeding GH¢7 million.
Management said recent investments, including a Toyota Land Cruiser and a digital printing centre, were part of a structured effort to modernise operations. These measures also enabled the payment of a 13th-month salary in December 2025 and a 40 percent salary increase for 2026.
The company concluded by reaffirming its support for President Mahama’s resetting agenda and its commitment to building a modern publishing company, urging unity and goodwill while refusing to be distracted by further comments from the former MD.
