After months of being “deliberately ignored” by government, the Ghana Book Publishers Association has given government one week ultimatum to settle its debts in full.

The publishers said they would be compelled to take the government, represented by the Ministry of Education and GETFund, to court if it fails to clear its debt.

The publishers were contracted by the Ministry of Education to supply basic schools with atlas books in January 2011 valued over 35 million dollars.

Currently, most of the publishers are being chased by their creditors, some of them have had their machines confiscated for their inability to pay companies they sub-contracted, Executive Secretary of Ghana Book Publishers Association, Fanua Atta Frimpong has told Myjoyonline.com.

The publishers involved include Winmat Publishers Ltd., Approachers (Publishers) Ghana Ltd., Sedco Publishing Ltd. and Adwinsa Publications (Gh).

In June 28, 2013 a letter signed by the Chief Director at the Education Ministry Enoch H. Cobbinah for the sector Minister instructed the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to pay these publishers but no positive action has since been taken, Mr. Frimpong stated.

However, he explained that about three months ago, GETFund handed the publishers a postdated cheque representing a paltry 18% of the debt. The amount, he said, could only pay the interest on the loans they contracted, which is calculated at 5% monthly. The principal they took from the bank is still standing, he added regrettably.

The Executive Secretary said after various petitions have been relegated by responsible authorities, the publishers are now resolved to go to court next week as their last resort.

He described the treatment being meted out to the publishers as “unacceptable”.

He accused public officials of showing “disrespect” to Ghanaian business owners, something Mr. Frimpong considered “demoralizing”.