Ashanti Region: Writers And Publishers Reject New NaCCA Guidelines

The Ashanti Regional Writers and Publishers Association (ASHWAPA) has vehemently rejected the new submission guidelines by the National Council for Curriculum Assessment (NaCCA) which calls on the writers to submit their books for assessment before putting them on market.

According to them the new submission guidelines by NaCCA states that all private writers are to submit their final products to the board for approval before they will be allowed to sell to the various schools in the country.

Addressing the media in a press conference at the K.O Methodist bookshop on Monday August 26, 2019, the moderator of the association Simon Baidu said the move by NaCCA is a clear attempt to get them out of business for them to get contracts for their cronies.

They explained that private writers per the submission guidelines are to pay a minimum of GH¢ 675 and a maximum of GH¢ 2,250 for every book they submit compared to the previous amount of GH¢350 maximum and GH¢50 minimum per book.

He added that timing for the submission of guidelines by NaCCA is in bad taste because of the short period they have to send the books for assessment and approval.

He disclosed that some of their members who sent their books to the NaCCA for approval two years ago are yet to hear from them so they do not see the need to send other books as the NaCCA is not doing their assigned work well.

The ASHWAPA which is mainly made up of authors, writers, publishing companies, bookshop owners and editors also hinted that the decision by NaCCA if not checked by government would render over 2,500 direct and indirect employees jobless in the Ashanti Region alone saying that the huge submission cost would force many of their members out of business.