The Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) has announced that beginning from July 2007 it would start publishing regional newspapers that would focus on activities in the 10 regions of the country. The first of the 10 new regional newspapers would be launched in Kumasi by the newly appointed Board sometime this year. Berfi Apenteng, out-going Managing Director of the Group, who made the announcement at the inauguration of the new nine-member Board of Directors, told them that they had a full plate even before they took office. The new board is made up of Osaahene Kwasi Offei Agyeman IV, Krontehene of Akropong as Chairman; Kafui Asem; Mike Adjei; Mrs Esther Nakai Mensah; Mrs Rose Fosu; Michael M. Asigri; Akwasi Agyeman; E. M. Boye and Berfi Apenteng. The have been appointed to a two year term. Mr Apenteng noted that in addition to the regional newspapers the Group would also start its new state of the art printing press to enable it to stand out in the face of high competition in the media. He said the Company was also working on establishing a more dynamic website to beat up its competitive urge on the Internet as well. "I think it is necessary for the Board to look at the structure of the Company, as the competition gets keener...one area worth considering is the possibility of listing the Company on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE)," he suggested. Mr Apenteng reminded the National Media Commission (NMC) and the new Board of the need to tie the appointment of subsequent Boards of the Group into its Annual General Meeting (AGM), saying that since the Group's status had changed from a fully State-owned media to a limited liability company that was required by law. Professor Kwame Gyekye, Outgoing Board Chairman of the Board, stressed the plans of the Group to establish the regional newspapers, saying that the various regional newspapers would be named after the regions such as “Central Graphic”, “Ashanti Graphic”, “Northern Graphic”, “Volta Graphic” and others. He said the outgoing Board had already purchased the Taysec property opposite Graphic Head Office at Adabraka at the cost of 880,000 dollars to enable the Company have adequate space for its operations. Prof Gyekye said GCGL has also acquired the property of SEEL Ghana near the Accra Brewery Company for the location of the state of the art printing press, adding that the procurement of the printing machine was well underway. "The ultimate aim of the Board I chaired is to make the Daily Graphic the London Times of Ghana, The Washington Post of Ghana, The Le Figaro of Ghana and Das Spiegel of Ghana," he said. Source: GNA