By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
The Managing Director of the Ghana Publishing Company Limited (GPCL), Mr. Nana Kwasi Boatey Esq, has issued a stern warning to culprits who intend to compromise the contents of the national gazette. According to him, the war against fake gazettes is a national one; therefore, culprits found will be arrested, prosecuted, and left to rot behind bars.
“As long as I remain the Managing Director of GPCL, any person, even a staff member of the GPCL, who attempts to compromise, pirate, or falsify the contents of the gazette is waging war against the GPCL and Ghana, and we will chase, arrest, and prosecute you,” he said. He mentioned that culprits are unaware of the disservice they are doing to democracy and the rule of law. He further urged Ghanaians to refrain from sympathizing with or begging for pardon for culprits who are prosecuted when found guilty.
Speaking at the official launch of the Gazette 360 public education campaign hosted by the Ghana Publishing Company Limited on August 27, 2025, the Managing Director, Nana Kwasi Boatey Esq, emphasized that the gazette was not a newspaper or just any publication but the official mouthpiece of the Republic of Ghana — the place where all official communications between Ghana and its people are legitimized. According to him, the document had to be revered and “literally worshipped.”
The campaign is designed to create nationwide awareness and understanding of the country’s official journal of government and legal publications. The theme for the launch was: “Know the gazette, use it and trust it.” Mr. Boatey Esq also revealed that the authentic gazette now bears a gold coat of arms, unlike the black-and-white version used before. This change, he said, was to stop fake gazettes from ruining the reputation of people who want to travel abroad.
At the official launch, the Corporate Affairs Manager of the GPCL, Lantam Papanko, spoke about the lack of knowledge people had about the national gazette, with some not knowing how or where to get the document. He mentioned that GPCL would ensure that every Ghanaian gained an understanding of the Gazette 360, explaining that election results, lotto numbers, laws passed by parliament, company registrations, marriages, and places of worship are all gazetted.
According to Mr. Papanko, although it is an important document, people often misunderstand the gazette, and this gap in knowledge has led to its exploitation. He also mentioned that GPCL was extending the campaign to schools, churches, mosques, and other institutions to ensure that every Ghanaian understood the gazette and how it worked.
The Gazette 360 public education campaign was officially launched in the presence of representatives from partners such as Marry Right Ghana and AngloGold Ashanti, as well as endorsers of the campaign including Prof. Baffour Agyemang-Duah, Rev. Dr. Cyril Fayose, Rev. Dr. Paul Kwabena Boafo, a representative of the National Chief Imam, and the Ga Mantse.
