Great reunion at Graphic’s 70th-anniversary launch
The theme: ‘Seven decades of influencing national development and building brands’ came alive at the launch of the Platinum Jubilee of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) when the colourful event turned out to be a historic reunion of the big family the media house has cultivated and nurtured over the past 70 years.
The big family reunion comprised avid readers, advertisers, stakeholders and former and current staff of the company who reminisced about years gone by, fraternised and sparked conversations about the ensuing years.
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Since the publications of the company cut across every sphere of society, it was not surprising that the three-hour launch attracted a large retinue of Ghanaian society, including members of its Diplomatic Corps and development partners.
The Minister of Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, under whose watch the GCGL falls; the Minister of Business Development, Dr Mohammed Ibrahim Awal, once a Managing Director of the company; the Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, who is also a former Editor of the Daily Graphic and Director, Newspapers of the GCGL; the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Jean Mensa, and members of the diplomatic community, including the United States Ambassador to Ghana, Mrs Stephanie S. Sullivan, were some of the high-profile personalities who graced the occasion at No. 3 Graphic Road, Accra, to support the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, and the management and staff of the company to launch the anniversary.
Attendees
There were also the Director-General in charge of Legal and Prosecution of the Ghana Police Service, COP Prosper Agblor, who represented the Inspector-General of Police, Mr James Oppong Boanuh; the Auditor-General, Mr Daniel Yaw Domelevo; a former Deputy Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr C. S. Buabeng; the President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI, and members of the Osu Traditional Council.
Others were two former managing directors of the GCGL, Mr Berifi Apenteng and Mr Akwasi Adu; two former Editors of the Daily Graphic, Ms Elizabeth Ohene and Nana Kwaku Dei, known in private life as Mr Ransford Tetteh, who acted as the MD of the GCGL before his retirement; a former Editor of the Graphic Showbiz, Nanabanyin Dadson; a former Assistant Editor of the Junior Graphic and The Mirror, Ms Victoria Odoi, a former Chief Sub-Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr K. K. Dako, and a former court correspondent and Journalist of the Year, Ms Mabel Aku Baneseh.
A former Assistant Editor of The Mirror and former President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Ms Ajoa Yeboah-Afari; a former GJA President, Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie; the current GJA President, Mr Roland Affail Monney; Mr Ken Ansah of the Multimedia Group, Mr Debrah Fynn, a retired member of staff of the GCGL; Mr Samuel Acheampong of the Office of Parliament and Mr Derrick Ansong of the Sogakope Beach Resort also graced the occasion.
Decades of influence
The GCGL, being a recorder of history and information over the years, toasted its guests to a montage of photographs that date back to the company’s inception in 1950, chronicling some of the most important events in thematic areas of political history, sports, arts and culture and the general lifestyle of the Ghanaian.
Before the launch, yesterday’s edition of the Daily Graphic, which officially announced the attainment of 70 years, after a series of teaser (suspense) advertisements, had a wrap designed with some of the historic events of the time that the media house’s brands had covered, with the banner headline: “Graphic is 70 years, Speaker launches anniversary today”.
As of 10 a.m. yesterday, retired and current members of staff, editors and management members had thronged the GCGL Head Office, where the launch was performed, to receive other dignitaries to help them make do with the programme lined up for the day.
The Speaker did, indeed, arrive in time, as did the other dignitaries, who were entertained by the combined force of the Police Band, beautiful cultural performances by the Abibigroma Group of the University of Ghana and poetry recitation by Rhyme Sonny, who eulogised the GCGL in his allegories, similes and alliterations.
More personalities
The occasion also had other personalities in attendance, including the Chief Executive Officer of the FBN Bank, Mr Victor Asante; the Head of Corporate and Investment Banking, Mr Kwamina Asomaning, the Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, both of Stanbic Bank, Mr Mawuko Afadzinu; captains of industry and players in the private sector, high-level security chiefs, such as the Director General, Welfare, of the Ghana Police Service, Commissioner of Police (COP) Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo Danquah; the Rector of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), Professor Kwamena Kwansah-Aidoo; three-time GJA Journalist of the Year, Alhaji Razak El-Alawa; Mr Charles Ansong Dankyi of the National Insurance Commission; Fr Blaise Attachie of the Holy Spirit Cathedral; a columnist of the Daily Graphic, Mrs Vicky Wireko; the President of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana, Mr Kwabena Yeboah; Ms Wendy Asiama; a former News Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Albert Sam; a former Chairman of the Graphic Union, Mr Henry Addo, the Chief Executive Officer of Stratcomm, Ms Esther Cobbah, the Executive Director of the Institute of Democratic Governance, Dr Emmanuel Akwetey, a retired acting Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr K.K. Inkoom, and Mr Ken Bediako, a retired staff member.
The list also included a retired staff member, Mr Larweh Therson-Cofie; the Director of Deployment, National Service Secretariat, Emma Hammond; Nana Sifa Twum of the Corporate Affairs Unit of the National Pensions Regulatory Authority; Ms Shirley Acquah-Harrison, Kwikbrand Limited; Valentine Mensah, board member; Ms Diana Okine, Ghana Stock Exchange; Ivy R. Austin, board member; a retired staff member, Nii Addokwei Moffat; Mr Richard Dah, Asad Nazir, Mr Kojo Larbi, Stanbic Bank; Mr Francis Oduro, Mr Prince Hari Crystal, Crystal TV; Mr Richard Lamptey, Samuel Odartey Lamptey, Mr E. Baffoe-Bonnie of Tobinco Pharmacy; a former Editor of the Graphic Sports, Mr Joe Aggrey; a retired staff member, Ms Salomey Donkor, the Managing Director of the Ghana News Agency, Mr Kofi Owusu, and the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Mohammed Adjei Sowah.