The Ghana Publishing Company Limited (GPCL) has unveiled a new e-gazette system aimed at streamlining its operations, improving service delivery, and reducing revenue leakages.
The initiative aligns with the government’s broader digitalization agenda, spearheaded by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to bring government services online for greater convenience and efficiency.
Speaking at the launch event held at the company’s premises in Accra on Wednesday, December 4, the Minister for Public Sector Enterprises and Member of Parliament for Effia, Joseph Cudjoe, lauded the digitalization initiatives, describing them as transformative steps toward economic and administrative efficiency.
The initiative, he noted, is part of the broader policy of the Ghana government’s digitalization agenda, which has been championed by the Vice President.
According to him, Ghana now has the data infrastructure to transition many government processes onto online platforms, offering greater convenience to citizens.
He pointed to the success of other institutions such as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), which have already adopted digital systems.
“Let’s uphold and embrace the digital technology being implemented. It fosters speedy economic development, and we should all be proud of how far we’ve come,” he added.
The Managing Director of GPCL, David Boateng Asante, emphasized the transformative impact of the e-gazette system, marking a significant milestone in Ghana’s digitalization journey.
He noted that the system reflects the country’s commitment to leveraging technology for economic growth and enhanced service delivery.
According to Mr. Asante, any document or publication requiring gazetting through Ghana Publishing can now be processed online.
“You just have to go to www.ghanapublishing.com and begin the application process. The system integrates seamlessly with national digital infrastructure, including the Ghana Card, mobile money platforms, and the unique property address system,” he explained.
“This allows for end-to-end online applications with delivery to specified property or house locations,” he added.
A key objective of the e-gazette system is to eliminate illegal practices and revenue losses.
Mr. Asante stated that as soon as Ghana Publishing decided to go paperless, it began weeding out individuals involved in the preparation of fake gazettes.
“Now you don’t need a middleman. You upload your affidavit and marriage certificate online, pay online, and receive your services conveniently,” he said.
The system also provides secure, limited access to a central data pool for institutions such as the Passport Office and embassies, enabling them to verify the authenticity of gazettes without additional correspondence.
According to him, under this regime, it is impossible to produce fake gazettes for purposes such as visa applications. He stressed that GPCL has fully resolved the problem of illegal gazette processing.
Responding to concerns about access for non-digital users, Mr. Asante reassured the public that traditional office services would remain available.
“If you think there are challenges with your internet service, we still run the paper service in the office. However, the digital services are designed to make life simpler and more convenient for everyone,” he said.
Mr. Asante further stressed the broader implications of the e-gazette system for Ghana’s digital transformation, describing it as transformative, innovative, and a major paradigm shift.
He concluded that the e-gazette makes Ghana Publishing’s services essential, digitalized, and readily accessible while cutting down wastage and improving revenue control.
