The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, has called on Ghanaian media houses to emulate the Daily Graphic’s enduring commitment to credibility, integrity and innovation, describing the newspaper as a national institution whose example offers vital lessons for the wider media landscape.
Speaking at a cake cutting ceremony to mark the Daily Graphic’s 75th anniversary in Accra today, Mr Debrah praised the Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL) for its consistency over the past seven decades, crediting its longevity to the values that have earned it generations of trust.
“The story of Graphic@75 holds important lessons for all media houses in Ghana; credibility matters. Graphic has earned the trust of generations by sticking to the values of accuracy and integrity,” he said.
He stressed that Graphic was proof that media organisations could balance commercial viability with social responsibility, urging other news outlets to model themselves after it.
“Other media houses can look to Graphic as a model of how a media institution can be both commercially viable and socially responsible. May the next 75 years be even brighter, more innovative and more impactful,” Mr Debrah stated.
The Chief of Staff congratulated the management and staff of GCGL, noting that the organisation’s history is intertwined with Ghana’s nationhood, having been established even before independence in 1950. He highlighted its role as a custodian of the nation’s history, from the independence struggle to contemporary democratic governance.
“For 75 years, the Graphic’s publications have been the custodians of our nation’s history, chronicling Ghana’s journey from independence to modern democracy. Graphic has provided accurate, credible and balanced information that has shaped public opinion, guided national debate and strengthened democratic governance,” he said.
Mr Debrah also praised Graphic’s embrace of digital platforms, saying it demonstrated readiness for the future. “Institutions evolve to become something bigger than the way they started, and now we can see Graphic is doing a lot in the digital space, which shows that you are poised to be ready for what is ahead,” he remarked.
Responding to concerns by GCGL’s Managing Director that successive governments had offered little direct support to the organisation, Mr Debrah assured that he would relay the message to President John Dramani Mahama.
On behalf of the President, he congratulated Graphic for standing as “a true Ghanaian company” that continues to shape public discourse and urged it to play a role in preparing the public to embrace the government’s 24-hour economy initiative.
He concluded by affirming the government’s commitment to media freedom, capacity building, and journalist safety, adding that Graphic’s example showed the path for media to remain innovative without losing sight of accuracy, balance and public service.
