Ghana Government: New Printing Directive Mandates 20% for GPCL

• Ghana's government has issued a Cabinet directive allocating up to 20% of all printing assignments to the state-owned Ghana Publishing Company Limited (GPCL).
• The directive aims to bolster the capacity and commercial viability of GPCL, according to its Managing Director, Nana Kwasi Boatey.
• GPCL has recently secured significant government contracts, including the national budget for the first time in over seven years.
• The Finance Minister designated GPCL as the country's primary printer during the 2026 budget presentation, tasking it with the nationwide free textbook program.
• The company's leadership has expressed readiness to fulfill these new responsibilities and seeks partnerships to expand its operations.

The Ghanaian government has formally issued a Cabinet directive mandating that up to 20 percent of all its printing assignments be allocated to the Ghana Publishing Company Limited (GPCL).

The Ghanaian government has formally issued a Cabinet directive mandating that up to 20 percent of all its printing assignments be allocated to the Ghana Publishing Company Limited (GPCL). This significant policy shift was confirmed by Nana Kwasi Boatey, the Managing Director of GPCL, during his address at the Government Accountability Series held at Jubilee House on Monday, November 2. The directive, which represents a concerted effort to bolster the state-owned enterprise, was reportedly secured through the direct involvement of sector Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu.

This strategic allocation is intended to serve a dual purpose: to enhance the operational capacity of GPCL and to improve its long-term commercial sustainability. By guaranteeing a substantial portion of government printing work, the administration aims to provide a stable foundation for the company's growth and development. This move is a clear indication of the government's commitment to strengthening its indigenous state-owned entities within the printing sector.

Prior to this directive, GPCL had already begun to re-establish its standing among government institutions, successfully securing several major printing contracts. These notable assignments included the production of the national budget, the mid-year budget review, and the 2025 State of the Nation Address. Significantly, the company undertook the printing of the national budget for the first time in over seven years, marking a substantial achievement in its recent history.

Further solidifying its central role, the Finance Minister officially designated GPCL as the nation's primary printer during the presentation of the 2026 budget. This announcement came with a specific mandate for the company to lead the production of materials required for the government's extensive nationwide free textbook programme. Nana Kwasi Boatey affirmed GPCL's readiness to meet these new challenges, emphasizing the company's commitment to timely delivery and the highest quality standards for all its printing contracts. He also extended an invitation to corporate Ghana to collaborate with GPCL, aiming to expand its broader printing and publishing operations.

This Cabinet directive represents a pivotal change in Ghana's public procurement landscape for printing services. By reserving a substantial portion of government printing jobs for GPCL, the policy inherently creates a preferential environment for the state-owned entity, potentially altering competitive bidding processes for private printing firms. The move underscores a broader strategy to leverage state assets for national development and economic self-reliance within key sectors.

The government's decision to channel a significant volume of printing work to GPCL reflects a deliberate effort to ensure the company's viability and to utilize its infrastructure for critical national projects, such as the free textbook initiative. While strengthening a state-owned enterprise, this Ghana government printing policy also sets a new precedent for how government contracts for printing will be distributed, signaling a more structured approach to supporting local, state-owned industry.

This directive signals a significant shift in public procurement for printing services in Ghana, mandating a substantial allocation to the state-owned Ghana Publishing Company Limited. Lawyers advising private printing firms should reassess their clients' strategies for securing government contracts, as this creates a preferential environment for GPCL and impacts competitive bidding processes.

Source: Reporting based on an announcement by GPCL's Managing Director.