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The Ghana Publishing Company Limited (GPCL) has warned against the piracy and falsification of the Ghana Gazette, stressing that such acts amount to an attack on the foundations of democracy and the rule of law.
It has indicated that the document was not an ordinary publication but the most sacred medium through which the government communicated legitimately with citizens.
“It is the official masterpiece of the Republic of Ghana. When elections are held and the Electoral Commission declares results, they only become legitimate when published in the gazette.
When Parliament passes laws, they only take effect when captured in the gazette.
“To compromise this document is to wage war against Ghana, and against democracy itself,” the Managing Director of GPCL, Nana Boatey, stressed.
He said this in Accra yesterday at the launch of Gazette 360, a nationwide public education campaign designed to increase awareness and understanding of the Ghana Gazette, the official journal of government and legal notices.
The Gazette 360 initiative, which is in partnership with MarryRight Ghana, and supported by AngloGold Ashanti, aims to promote transparency, strengthen governance and ensure that the public understands how to use the Ghana Gazette as a trusted legal reference.
Mr Boatey expressed concern that counterfeit gazettes were being used for fraudulent purposes such as fake marriages, falsified academic records and sham business registrations.
He said such practices were not only eroding trust in state institutions, but also tarnishing the country’s international reputation, particularly for citizens seeking opportunities abroad.
Mr Boatey described the activities of those producing fake gazettes as a disservice to the country, adding that GPCL, in collaboration with law enforcement and other state institutions, would intensify efforts to clamp down on perpetrators.
“We will chase you, we will outlast you, we will prosecute you and we will ensure you face the full rigours of the law,” he said.
To safeguard the integrity of the document, he said GPCL had introduced enhanced security features, including a gold-coloured national coat of arms and watermarks on every page, to make it easier to detect falsified versions.
He said plans were also underway to digitise access to the gazette to enable citizens and institutions to easily verify its authenticity.
Mr Boatey further explained that the Gazette 360 initiative would raise awareness on how to identify an authentic gazette, where to procure it, and the dangers of using fake copies.
He called on the media and the general public to support the campaign, stressing that protecting the integrity of the gazette was a collective responsibility.
“The Ghana Gazette is the single most authentic document that binds the state to its people.
Any attempt to compromise it is an assault on our democracy and the rule of law. Together, we must safeguard its integrity,” Mr Boatey said.
The Chief Operations Officer of MarryRight Ghana, Barima Agyemang, pledged his organisation’s support for the campaign, and emphasised the gazette’s symbolic value in upholding loyalty, trust and order in the country.
“As partners, we will continue to support the dissemination of this message through our networks, platforms, and events, ensuring that Gazette 360 reaches schools, churches, mosques, communities and institutions across the country,” he said.
Mr Agyemang commended the media for amplifying the message, and urged all stakeholders to collaborate to protect the gazette’s integrity.
“Together, let us ensure that no institution is left in the dark about the path and purpose of this national necessity.
Today and in the future, we commit to action towards a society built on authenticity, transparency and trust. We stand with GPCL in saying that the Ghana Gazette must be known, used and trusted,” he added.
