Accra, January 15, 2026 – The management of the Ghana Publishing Company Limited (GPCL) has issued a detailed response to what it describes as misleading claims by its former Managing Director, Mr. David Asante, following recent comments made by President John Dramani Mahama during a working visit to the company.
President Mahama visited GPCL on Thursday, January 8, 2026, a day after marking his first anniversary in office, to assess the company’s operations and ongoing reforms. The visit, described as historic, is the first presidential visit to GPCL under the Fourth Republic.
After receiving a briefing on the company’s financial position and reforms, the President commended the current management and board for what he described as a significant turnaround. He noted that GPCL previously had a poor reputation and praised recent efforts to restore confidence in the institution.
However, these remarks triggered a response from former Managing Director David Asante, who took to social media on January 14, claiming credit for the company’s revival and accusing the President of overlooking his role in GPCL’s transformation.
In a statement issued by its Corporate Affairs Department, GPCL management rejected Mr. Asante’s claims, describing them as unmeritorious and driven by self-interest, and sought to set the record straight while defending the President’s comments.
The statement clarified that Mr. Asante took over the company in 2017 from Mr. David Dzreke, who managed GPCL from 2010 to 2017 and initiated major improvements. According to GPCL, Mr. Dzreke handed over a fully functional printing setup, vehicles including a Toyota Land Cruiser and Coaster bus, and significant cash reserves, partly from rent paid by Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG) in 2016.
Management noted that despite benefitting from these assets, Mr. Asante failed to acknowledge his predecessor publicly and allowed some inherited assets, including the Land Cruiser, to fall into disrepair after an uninsured accident. The statement further alleged that Mr. Asante rented his private vehicle to the company at a daily rate without adding any new vehicles to the fleet.
GPCL also disputed claims that major equipment acquired during Mr. Asante’s tenure drove the company’s recovery, explaining that a key machine purchased was an old Heidelberg press that has remained unusable despite costly repair attempts.
On the issue of ballot paper printing, management stated that the contract for the 2016 elections was secured and executed under the Dzreke administration, with payments received during Mr. Asante’s tenure.
The statement further dismissed claims about the profitability of the Kumasi branch, explaining that it operates only as a sales outlet and could not generate the millions of cedis claimed by the former MD. GPCL also rejected assertions that Parliament settled long-standing debts after the change in management, stressing that no payments have been received from Parliament since the current administration assumed office in February 2025.
Addressing financial matters, management said recent revenues were largely from payments by the Electoral Commission for ballot printing, which were used to settle outstanding supplier debts and unpaid obligations dating back several years. The company disclosed that it is still servicing a tax liability exceeding GH¢7 million, including unpaid VAT.
GPCL also corrected claims regarding recent capital expenditure, stating that the company purchased a Toyota Land Cruiser valued at about US$200,000 and established a digital printing centre worth approximately US$350,000, not US$20,000 as claimed. Management attributed these achievements to prudent and transparent leadership, which also enabled the payment of a 13th-month salary in December 2025 and a 40 percent salary increase for 2026.
The company further clarified that while staff worked extended hours during past election periods, a structured 24-hour shift system aligned with the government’s 24-hour economy policy is now fully operational, without routine overtime.
Finally, GPCL addressed claims about a 3000 percent increase in assets, explaining that the increase resulted from asset revaluation, not retooling, as clearly indicated in the 2023 audited financial statements.
Management concluded by reaffirming its commitment to supporting President Mahama’s resetting agenda and building an ultra-modern publishing company, stating it would not be distracted by further commentary from the former Managing Director.
The statement ended with a call for unity and goodwill, invoking blessings for the President, GPCL, and Ghana.
Issued by the Corporate Affairs Department, Ghana Publishing Company Limited.