The University of Ghana Printing Press has been officially launched at a colorful ceremony. The launch was to outdoor the new equipment and the refurbished building housing the Press, as well as to bring its services to the attention of the University community and the general public.
Pro Vice-Chancellor (RID) and Management Board Chair leading
guests into the newly refurbished building
Giving the background to the Press, the Acting Provost of the College of Education, Prof. Michael Tagoe, stated that two in-house presses were established in the 1970’s in the then Institute of Adult Education and the School of Communication Studies to cater for the printing needs of these institutions.
He noted that in 2014, when the University adopted the collegiate system of governance, the need to merge the two presses was mooted because the School of Continuing and Distance Education (SCDE), through a grant from the Chinese Government, had received equipment which could not be installed and housed at the school because of space limitations.
Prof. Michael Tagoe, Acting Provost (CoE)
He added that following approval by university management, the two presses were joined, to form the University of Ghana Printing Press.
Newly installed equipment for the press
Prof. Felix Ankomah Asante, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Development, who performed the official launch on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, noted that the purchase and installation of new equipment would take the Press to the next level. He stated that "the Press will support the University's efforts at diversifying funding sources and increasing the university's internally generated funds" at a time that COVID-19 has dried up regular streams of income for the University.
Prof. Felix Ankomah Asante, Pro VC (ORID)
While noting the possible challenges and competition the UG Press may face from established industry players, he advocated for the right structures and conducive environment for the press to grow on the successes chalked so far.
A cross section of guests at the launch
Mr. Kwaku Mensa-Bonsu, Chairman of the UG Press Management Board, stated that from November 2016 when the management board was appointed, the Press hit the ground running and took on a major part of official printing needs of the University even with the limited resources inherited.
He noted that over the years the Press has acquired additional equipment, and was now equipped to take over the printing needs of the entire University and beyond. He noted that the commitment of the Press is embedded in its slogan: “Quality printing, prompt delivery".
Mr. Kwaku Mensa-Bonsu, Chair of the Management Board
The ceremony ended with a tour of the refurbished printing press facility and a brief demonstration of how the newly installed equipment functions.
Mr. Nicholas Graham, Print Manager, taking officials round the Press
Some works done by the Press on display
UG Officials with Management Board of the UG Printing Press