A five-member delegation from the International Advertising Association (IAA) and the Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) has paid a courtesy call on the Managing Director of Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Kenneth Ashigbey.
The meeting provided a platform for the parties to deliberate on the partnership between the GCGL and the AAG on the conference of the IAA scheduled to take place in Accra next year.
The two-day conference would bring together players in the advertising industry globally to discuss issues affecting the industry, particularly in Africa.
Among the delegation were the President of IAA, Mr Michael Lee, and the Vice President of IAA Development-Africa, Mrs Norkor A. Duah.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic after the meeting, Mrs Duah, said the conference would develop new ways to improve the advertising sector.
“There are new trends coming with digital technologies and perceptions are also changing so we need to know where we are going as advertisers and communication industry.” she said.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the partnership, Mr Ashigbey said advertising and the media complemented each other and the partnership would go a long way to benefit them.
He said Africa had a lot to share hence the need for the African story to be told to the world adding “we believe that this is an opportunity to help tell the African story”.
Mr Ashigbey noted that the industry was going through a lot of challenges currently due to the lack of regulations to control it.
“Some of the adverts on television and radio do not paint a good picture of the industry”, he said.
He expressed appreciation about the visit, adding, “It is a privilege to know that IAA sees us as creditable partners such that when their global president is in town, he will come and visit Graphic”.
Mr Ashigbey pledged his outfit’s commitment to help AAG in its quest to introduce regulations to address challenges in the industry.
Role of Graphic
Speaking on the role that the GCGL would play in the upcoming conference, Mr Ashigbey said Graphic would provide national and international coverage before, during and after the conference, using the print and online media and participate in the two-day conference as well.