8 firms shortlisted to print textbooks locally

Eight local firms have been shortlisted after a tender process to print all textbooks needed by schools in the country locally.

The move is part of a policy by the government to end the current situation where majority of textbooks and exercise books needed by schools are printed by foreign firms.

Speaking to journalists, Deputy Minister of Education Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said: “The new policy is that all textbooks must be printed locally, enough of the printing of textbooks outside, so, what we have done is to carry out an inspection of the capacity of our local printers and we were really impressed with the capacity that is available in this country; they have some of the modern equipment that you’ll find anywhere else in this world and so what we have done is to float a tender.

"They have applied, our experts have carried out a shortlisting, and eight of these local printing firms have been selected and they are going to print all our textbooks, and I emphasize all, 100 per cent, we are not going back to the era where you print just 13 per cent or 9 per cent locally and the rest is printed outside.”

The Ghana Printers and Paper Converters Association (GPPCA) has welcomed the move saying it will provide about 1000 jobs in the industry.