News
Ghana Publishing Company launches nationwide Gazette 360 campaign
The Ghana Publishing Company Limited (GPCL) has rolled out Gazette 360, a nationwide public education campaign designed to deepen public understanding of the Ghana Gazette and make access to the official journal easier for all citizens.
The campaign, which will feature media engagements, community outreach, and digital learning platforms, seeks to demystify the Gazette, highlight its importance in legal and civic life, and protect the public from fraudulent publications.
It also aims to ensure that individuals, businesses, and institutions know how to obtain authentic gazettes and use them as reliable legal references.
Under the theme “Know it, Use it, Trust it,” Gazette 360 emphasizes transparency, accountability, and the protection of Ghana’s democratic governance.
Launching the initiative in Accra, GPCL’s Managing Director, Nana Kwasi Boatey, said the Gazette had been upgraded with new security features, including a gold coat of arms and watermarks, to prevent counterfeiting.
He explained that the features were not ornamental but crucial safeguards to track authenticity.
He revealed that electronic verification systems were also being developed to make it easier for the public to confirm genuine publications.
Mr. Boatey cautioned that fake gazettes were damaging the reputations of many Ghanaians through fraudulent marriages and name changes.
He stressed that those who falsify the Gazette were “waging war against the state” and warned that offenders would be pursued, arrested, and prosecuted.
He urged the media to support the fight against fake gazettes, describing the campaign as a national responsibility to protect the integrity of Ghana’s most authoritative legal record.
GPCL’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Lantam Papanko, explained that Gazette 360 was created to break down misconceptions about the Gazette and highlight its relevance to everyday life.
He said the campaign would not only involve the press but also extend into schools, universities, churches, mosques, and community forums, so that every Ghanaian could understand the Gazette and its role in governance.
Mr. Papanko stressed that Gazette 360 was not just a GPCL initiative but a national campaign calling on citizens to value truth, legality, and integrity in public records.
He thanked MarryRight Ghana and AngloGold Ashanti for their partnership and called on the media to keep the conversation alive.
Operations Manager at MarryRight Ghana, Barimah Agyemang, said marriage officers and venues must be published in the Gazette to give weddings legal force.
He warned that ceremonies conducted without proper gazetting risked lacking binding legal authority, which could expose couples and institutions to legal disputes.
Mr. Agyemang pledged MarryRight’s support in spreading the campaign’s message nationwide and commended GPCL for taking steps to protect the integrity of marriages and other legal processes.
Background
The Ghana Gazette is the official journal of record of the Republic of Ghana. It publishes laws, parliamentary instruments, government notices, company registrations, and other legal documents.
Any information published in the Gazette is legally recognized and enforceable, making it a trusted source of communication between the state and the public.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Local mattress manufacturers have raised serious concerns over the influx of substandard mattresses, warning that these products pose significant health risks to consumers and threaten the sustainability of Ghana’s mattress industry.
At a press briefing held in Kumasi on Tuesday, manufacturers accused unregistered foreign entities, particularly Chinese firms, of flooding the market with cheap mattresses made from polystyrene.
Mr Yaw Ampem Darko, a spokesperson for the local manufacturers, warned that prolonged use of substandard mattresses, especially those made with polystyrene, could result in chronic back pain, musculoskeletal disorders, poor posture, and diminished sleep quality.
These health implications, they stressed, were not always immediately evident but accumulate over time, especially among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
This material, typically used for packaging, is considered unsuitable and unsafe for bedding.
According to industry leaders, these sub-standard products have been circulating for at least five years, gaining traction among unsuspecting consumers due to their unusually low prices.
“These mattresses are being sold at suspiciously low prices, luring unsuspecting consumers who are unaware of the health dangers.”
“We are not just protecting our businesses; we are protecting Ghanaian lives. The government must act swiftly to stem this tide before more citizens fall victim to these dangerous products,” Mr Yaw Ampem Darko stated.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has acknowledged the issue and, in response, announced a nationwide enforcement campaign aimed at clamping down on the production, distribution, and sale of substandard mattresses.
The campaign, which was scheduled to take effect from September 30, 2025, was empowered by the GSA Act, 2022 (Act 1078), which authorises the Authority to seize and seal non-compliant products and impose sanctions on offenders.
In a statement signed by the Director General of the GSA, Professor George Agyei, the authority cited Sections 29 and 43 of the Act, reiterating that all mattresses sold in Ghana must meet established national standards or face confiscation.
The statement further emphasised that mattresses failing to meet these standards not only compromise sleep quality but also contribute to long-term health complications, including spinal and neck pain.
Despite the GSA’s commitment, manufacturers have expressed frustration over delays in implementation and called for stronger enforcement mechanisms.
They urged the GSA to work in close collaboration with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and national law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute violators of Ghana’s quality standards.
Manufacturers are also appealing to consumers to remain vigilant and prioritise their health by verifying that any mattress they purchase bears the GSA certification mark.
Moreover, they caution the public against purchasing suspiciously cheap mattresses that lack proper labelling or identifiable branding, as these were often indicators of substandard or counterfeit products.
As the official enforcement deadline had expired with no show, the local producers insisted that much more than business interests were at stake.
They argued that without swift and sustained action, the health and safety of Ghanaian consumers would continue to be compromised.
“Public awareness, strict enforcement, and collaboration among regulatory bodies are essential if we are to protect the integrity of the local industry and the wellbeing of the Ghanaian people,” Mr Darko indicated.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
The Founder of the Raissa Child Protection Initiative, Ms Raissa Sambou, has urged authorities to impose severe punishment on individuals, including teachers and guardians, who sexually abuse young girls.
Speaking in an interview to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child (October 11), Ms Sambou condemned the increasing cases of sexual exploitation involving minors, describing such acts as “heartless, criminal, and a total betrayal of trust.”
She noted that those entrusted with the care and education of children must not be the same people who violate them, stressing that “anyone found guilty of abusing a girl child must face the full rigours of the law without leniency.”
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually to promote the rights of girls, empower them to reach their full potential, and draw attention to the challenges they face worldwide.
Ms Sambou lamented that poverty continues to push many young girls into vulnerable situations, exposing them to exploitation.
She expressed concern that some headmasters, teachers, and community members who should protect girls rather take advantage of them.
“This must stop immediately. The safety of every girl must never be compromised,” she said, urging the public to report all forms of abuse to the appropriate authorities and called for swift action by law enforcement agencies against perpetrators.
Addressing girls directly, Ms Sambou encouraged them to take their education seriously and to believe in their potential.
“It is possible to be young and responsible. Your future is bright, protect it, believe in it, and never let anyone dim your light,” she advised.
She further urged girls to choose their friends wisely, stay disciplined, and speak up if anyone makes sexual advances toward them.
Ms Sambou concluded with a rallying call for collective action, saying “speak up, protect them, and empower them. Together, we can end the sexual exploitation of girls.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
