Graphic, Rotary To Forge Partnership

The Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL) and Rotary clubs in the country have decided to forge a partnership to ensure peace and the rapid socio-economic development of the country.

The partnership will target the rural and urban poor and the underprivileged to help reduce maternal and infant mortality among that segment of the Ghanaian society.

That was the outcome of discussions held between a delegation of the Rotary clubs in Ghana and the management of the GCGL on the eve of celebrations marking 50 years of Rotary club activities in Ghana.

The Rotary clubs delegation, which was led by Mr Andrews Jack Dotsey, the Chairman of the Council of Rotary clubs in Ghana, had called on the Managing Director of the GCGL, Mr Ibrahim Awal, to brief him on the humanitarian services being rendered by Rotarians and also inform him about planned activities to mark the Golden Jubilee.

Mr Dotsey, who is also the President of the Rotary Club of Accra, emphasised that the clubs were celebrating 50 years of community service to the country, adding that the humble contribution to the peace and development of the country by Rotary clubs had been phenomenal.

He said clubs had accomplished such projects as polio eradication, aflatoxin awareness campaign in maize, the establishment of the Plastic Reconstruction and Burns Unit at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, bringing in hundreds of specialists to work in rural and urban hospitals, among other things.

He said all those initiatives had been accomplished through personal donations from Rotarians, philanthropists, corporate institutions, as well as Rotary International.

He denied the notion that Rotary clubs were the preserve of the well-to-do and the rich in society and invited GCGL staff, as well as the public, to register with the 20 Rotary clubs spread throughout the country.

Mr Awal, for his part, welcomed the partnership initiative, saying prior to the partnership agreement the GCGL had been of immense assistance to Rotary clubs by way of highlighting their activities through feature articles, as well as providing substantial discounts on adverts and sometimes running adverts free of charge to advance the cause of humanity which Rotarians had taken upon themselves.

He said the partnership had come to raise the level of collaboration to a higher level where the two organisations would be meeting frequently to brainstorm on projects and activities that would advance the cause of humanity.

The managing director stressed that even though the company was profit motivated, it was also service oriented as it continued to champion good governance and offer free medicare for the needy in the society through the Graphic Needy Fund.

He explained that the company disbursed more than GH¢200,000 annually on its corporate social responsibility programmes, which included scholarships for children of vendors and agents, among other things.

The Rotary delegation presented a certificate embodying the four-way test of the things we do and say to the managing director as a guiding principle for the staff of GCGL.

The four-way test is: 'Is it the truth?' 'Is it fair to all concerned?' 'Will it build goodwill and better friendship?' 'Will it be beneficial to all concerned?'

The delegation urged the GCGL to ensure that in all its publications those basic principles and values were upheld.

The five-member Rotary delegation included Mr Benjamin Kpodo, President, Rotary Club of Accra-Achimota; Mr Don Obilor, member, Rotary Club of Accra; Nana Yaa Siriboe, President, Rotary Club of Accra-Labone, and Mrs Theresa Osei-Tutu, President, Rotary club of Accra-Airport.

The Graphic management team included the General Manager, Newspapers, Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh; the General Manager, Marketing and Public Affairs, Mr Kwasi Asare; the Public Affairs Manager, Mr Albert Sam, and the Procurement Manager, Mr John Tagoe.

Story by Abdul Aziz