Education minister impressed with G-Pak's facilities (8/6/09)mp

THE Minister of Education, Mr Alexander Tettey-Enyo, has expressed satisfaction at the high quality of printing by Graphic Packaging (G-Pak), a subsidiary of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL).
He was convinced that G-Pak had the capacity to print all the educational materials needed to complement education in the country .
He gave the G-Pak high marks when he paid a familiarisation visit to the company as part of measures to determine the capacity of printing houses in the country to handle the printing of textbooks and exercise books in the country.
Mr Tettey-Enyo said the government intended to help local printers in the country to increase their capacity and give employment to the youth.
He was accompanied by his deputy, Mrs Elizabeth Amoah Tetteh, and the executive members of the Ghana Printers and Paper Converters Association (GPPCA).
Welcoming the delegation, the Managing Director of the GCGL, Mr Mohammed Awal, said G-PAK had the capacity to print materials that were needed in the country to complement education.
He said if that policy was supported, job opportunities would be created for the unemployed, while state revenue would be increased for the socio-economic development of the country.
He later took the minister and his entourage on a tour of the various departments of the company.
The President of GPPCA, Mr James Appiah-Berko, said about $70 million was spent last year on printing textbooks outside the country.
He pleaded with the government to support the industry by reducing tariffs on raw materials imported into the country so that materials printed in the country would become affordable.
The minister and his team had earlier visited Type Press, Yasarko Press and Innolink.