Unassuming but imbued with leadership skills that span human, government, business, education, and the arts Mr. James Appiah Berko, President – Ghana Printers & Paper Converters Association (GPPCA) is with deep and abiding commitment to improve the value of print practice in Ghana. With clarity of mission and steadfast commitment to excellence, Mr. Berko’s GPPCA strategic plan is to advance print businesses in Ghana focusing more on quality, human capacity development and improved capacity utilization of print facilities across the country backed with industry recognition. In this excerpt SPECIAL FEATURE INTERVIEW, WHERE To Print inquire to know how GPPCA will achieve these objectives.
HOW DO YOU SEE THE PROSPECT OF GHANA PRINTING INDUSTRY?
The Printing Industry is going through a certain form of transition because the routine lithographic printing is transiting into digital and extremely technical and sophisticated printing operation with advance equipment. Unfortunately, Africa seems to always be the last to catch up with state-of-the-art equipment.
Now, Ghana as a country is going through industrialization and our economy is moving from a monocultural economy to a multi-production economy. Packaging and printing in all forms, especially in the area of plastic and poly-plastics will definitely experience a boom thereby contributing to the economy of Ghana because there’ll be lots of demand for packaging in both paper and other substrates.
The industry has a lot of prospects even though paper printing and books seem to face serious challenge in the near future, I think that the transition would evolve an industry which is versatile enough to cope with changes just like any natural selection. Industries will get selected, the industry itself will evolve in a direction that would make it able to cope with changes that are coming to challenge it, so I think the Printing Industry has lots of prospects.
AND IN GROWING THE ECONOMY…
Young people who come from the universities are trained to think outside the box. As they acquire technical knowledge, they also need to think outside the box and become indigenous in their thinking and output in order to meet the demands of the time. I believe strongly that Ghana is looking at becoming a highly industrialize country producing agricultural, medical and pharmaceutical products; our textile industry is getting a lot of beef up in production that will suit African taste and demand (for African textiles); even alcoholic products in Ghana have seen huge boost; all these will feed into the labour market at various forms which will in turn create the need for packaging thereby growing the economy. The industrial direction of government with private sector participation is going to become a source of stimulation for print to grow and take high place in economic activities of the country.
THIS MEANS THAT THE PACKAGING SECTOR IS GROWING MORE….
Not only is packaging sector growing due to some of the reasons earlier mentioned, we also have digital (short run) and textile printing growing. And these are areas of opportunities to invest in – in terms of both local and foreign direct investment. There are also opportunities in after-sales services, education and training especially on specialist processes like gravure printing, plastic and poly-plastics printings, colour management and the likes. The industry definitely has a lot of prospects for would-be investors.
WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT, POLICY FORMULATION AND/ OR REVIEW ETC DO YOU EXPECT FROM GOVERNMENT?
As I noted earlier, the Printing Industry has the potential of contributing significantly to Ghana’s economy. We expect Government to engage Printers in Policy Formulation especially the ones that affect printing business. These are in the areas of machines and raw materials sourcing. In printing, we import most of the input for production that is why Government should give waivers or single digit tariffs on machineries, raw materials and consumables like inks, papers, chemicals etc that are imported for print production. Low tariffs and duties will enhance the capacity of printing firms to increase production thereby employing more Ghanaians. In the long run, it will have a multiplier effects on the economy through reduction in social vices and increased tax revenues to Government to provide basic amenities for the populace. Also, Government should develop a Printing Policy in collaboration with us to ensure Printing businesses survive. Government printing contracts such as textbooks printing must be done in Ghana. Printing is highly capital intensive and there should be lower interest rates by banks and other financial institutions on loans to Printers so that Printers can grow capacity and improve their businesses.
WHAT SHOULD PRINTERS DO DIFFERENTLY FROM NOW ON?
Printers should think as if there is no box. They should expand their scope due to the numerous opportunities in the industry. The popular saying that people should think outside the box is getting outdated. Printing has evolved over the years and it’s becoming very technical. Printers should know that the industry is going through transition so they must constantly update themselves and be open to new ideas because the market or the consumers are very different from what they used to be in terms of taste, trends and purchasing power. Printers should be open to new ideas; they should be united; and they should collaborate.
HOW DO YOU THINK A PRINT BUSINESS SHOULD BE RUN SUCCESSFULLY SO THAT THE OWNER CAN LEAVE A LEGACY BEHIND?
By having a vision of where you want the business to be. The owner must plan for the future and develop the right team that can go along with culture, core values, objectives and plans of the organisation. He/she must look beyond the present circumstances and build a solid structure that can withstand the test of time. He/ she must think ahead by carrying the team along.
FINALLY, WHAT WILL THE ASSOCIATION BE DOING TO SUPPORT MEMBERS?
To all members of Ghana Printers and Paper Converters Association, we will pursue our vision to be sensitive to both human and marketing needs of the industry, that is; to our members and the industry at large. We will ensure we are there for their welfare and advocate positively on their behalf with Government and other stakeholders. This year, we plan to have more seminars, workshops and training programmes that will help them to be better in their businesses. These trainings will be on costing and estimation, new trends in printing, colour management, and others. We will work with organisations like WHERE To Print to ensure Ghanaian Printers always meet and exceed their customers’ needs and expectations.
LAST WORD….
I will like the Ghanaian Government to collaborate with all stakeholders like us in the Printing Industry to strategically look into the African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) Agreement with a view to examine the opportunities and the threats to Ghanaian economy. There must be required preparation to make sure that Ghanaians take advantage of the Act to promote Ghanaian economy.
ON A LIGHT MOOD, HOW DO YOU RELAX?
I read, meditate, and enjoy music – both country and classical music.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME SIR
You’re welcome.