The Ghana Book Publishers Association (GBPA) is in discussions with interest groups to fashion out legislation to regulate the industry and combat the influx of low-standard books on the local market.The group is hoping to sanitize the industry and promote professionalism by striving to enhance the image of publishing, which practitioners expect will lead to increased awareness of the group’s role in educational and national development.According to Mr. Oppong Kwaku Amponsah of Adwinsa Publications, “the GBPA Council is developing a strong voice for the industry – one that cannot be ignored”, adding that a stakeholder conference will soon be held to address issues relating to the book industry.He was addressing the 7th Heidelberg/Publishing Studies Awards and Day Entrepreneurship Graduation at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).Mr. Amponsah suggested the establishment of an ‘Author Development Fund’ which would be “geared towards the publication of scholarly works or certain kinds of publications which are necessary for our national growth and development but are not usually bought by the open market”.He is of the view the future of publishing is bright if publishers can innovate and explore markets outside of Ghana, especially among Africans in diaspora. He however wants a reduction of taxes on printing materials for publishers and printers to remain competitive.The Heidelberg programme in entrepreneurship and small business management is run by the KNUST’s Department of Publishing Studies to support graduates form their own businesses and excel as intraprenuers in other public and private establishments.Course coordinator, Ralph Nyadu-Addo in an interview with Luv Biz Report emphasized the need for the study of entrepreneurship to begin early in a student’s life.“The nature of the programme is such that we start from the final year and it’s not that encouraging. We have something called ‘entrepreneurship across borders’, which some universities in the US are doing; whichever course you undertake there is an element of entrepreneurship fused into it. So right from the first year you start doing certain things to think entrepreneurial also gather courage to start something on their own”, he observed.For the seven years running, the programme continued the exclusive use of made-in-Ghana attire during lectures. This is aimed at boosting made-in-Ghana products and also instilling nationalism among students.Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh/Luv Fm/Ghana