A total number of 586 bank branches have been established as at May this year, from a low of 257 in 2001. The proliferation has been attributed to an economic stability the country is enjoying. Hon. Kojo Baah Wiredu made this revelation at the launch of the Graphic Business Newspaper, another brand of the Graphic Communications Group Limited. He said Ghana’s economy has proven to be resilient in the face of severe economic shocks, compounded by high crude oil and food prices, and advised businesses to take advantage of the favourable economic environment. With the increasing investment inflows into the country, as well as an emerging oil industry, Mr. Baah Wiredu urged the new Graphic Business to provide up to date business information for the business community. “In our economic circumstances, the business community will need a business paper that gives accurate business information, facts, figures, unbiased analysis and realistic conclusions to help them predict business trends accurately.” Hon Baah Wiredu advised the editorial team to include activities like money laundering, printing of fake currencies in their reportage to help nip those activities in the bud. He encouraged the company to continue with the prudent economic management in order to improve their profit margins and pay more dividends to the government. "I am proud to say, as the Finance Minister, that from GH¢300,000 in 2004 the company has progressively increased its profitability such that it was able to pay GH¢ 800,000 as dividend to the state for 2007 financial year." This can only increase, he added. Tony Oteng Gyasi who is the President of the Association of Ghana Industries and Chairman of the occasion said economic reporting is backbone for Ghana’s economic development and called on the news paper to provide timely and accurate reportage for the business community He said business reporting is a specialized area which goes beyond reporting figures and statistics and urged the company to provide deeper analysis and interpretation of the market figures. Accepting the challenge of providing up to date business information, Ibrahim Mohammed Awal Managing Director of the Graphic Group of Companies, assured the business community that the Graphic Business will move beyond mere information and education into becoming partners in development. He urged business community to patronise the paper in order to grow their various businesses. A total of GH ¢12,500 was realised after the first ten newly launched Graphic Business was auctioned. The Honda brand of vehicles and the Ghana Commercial Bank were the first to grab copies of the newspaper at a price of GH¢ 2000 and was autographed by the Finance Minister.