Ghana National Association of Authors and Publishers(GNAAP) to Increase Prices of Textbooks from September This Year
The Ghana National Association of Authors and Publishers (GNAAP) has announced an upward adjustment in prices of wholesale books effect September this year.
The new pricing structure will see books targeted at preschool priced between GHC50.00 and GHC60.00, primary school textbooks priced between GHC60.00 and GHC80.00, and Junior High School textbooks will be priced between GHC80.00 and GHC180.00.
Speaking at a press conference to announce the new pricing structure, President of the Association, Mr. John Akwasi Amponsah said the decision is as a result of the recent increase in the economic indicators.
Notable among them includes high inflation, high interest rates and continued appreciation of the dollar against the cedi plus the higher port charges and the imposition of VAT on books and hike in fuel prices.
''The value of books funds in debt are huge and publishers are losing their purchasing power on daily basis due to high rate of inflation and high cost of borrowing'', Mr. Amponsah said.
He mentioned that the four pillars of education for the 21st century espoused by UNESCO comprise learning to know, learning to do, learning to be and to live.
Mr. Amposah further explained, that the Florence Agreement in 1950 which says the importation of books should not attract any duty to make books quality and affordable for all learners has been tainted by the imposition of new port charges and VAT making cost of books unbearable for parents.
To salvage the book industry from falling out of Business, the Association announced that effective September 2024, the wholesale prices of books will range from Ghc50-Ghc60.00for preschool children, Ghc60-Ghc80.00 for primary school textbooks and Ghc80-180.00 for Junior and Senior High Schools.
According to Mr. Amponsah, the Association is introducing cash and carry into the mainstream policy regarding the sales of books at a discount of 25 percent.
He however noted, that credit for bulk purchase in exceptional cases shall not extend beyond 40 days from the time of purchase and delivery at a discount of 10 percent.
The association further threatened higher increment if government refused to review some of its port charges like Covid-19 levy, AU levy among others, and urges government to consider the withdrawal of the Value Added Tax (VAT)from books that are making clearing unbearable for publishers.