The print media in the country is on the verge of collapse, if nothing urgent is done about the rising cost of printing materials, especially the newsprint.
Producers of newspapers have watched helplessly as the price of newsprint and other printing materials, have skyrocketed in the past few weeks.
Until about a three weeks ago the price of one newsprint was GH¢160, this price was sustained until there was a drastic increase from GH¢200 to GH¢220 to GH¢280 within three days.
The trend looks to continue if nothing is done about it. It is against this background that, as a newspaper, we are calling on the Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) to engage the government, as well as retailers to find a way to bring down the price of the commodity.
We are calling for among other things the show of concern by leadership of PRINPAG to the plight of its members, who have decided to remain in business.
Already, with the outbreak of Covid-19, newspaper sale has not been encouraging, sales has gone down considerably and so increasing the unit price of a newspaper is not an option.
PRINPAG, has a unique opportunity to step in to help get incentives for media houses, so they can continue to remain in business.
Our nascent democracy can grow and get better, if media houses, have the capacity to do it work, without the fear of collapsing due to increases in the price of materials for production.
If government can see it fit to provide relief to other sectors of the economy, the print media, also deserve it fair share to prevent it from collapsing.
This is the time for PRINPAG, to stand up and be counted. Leadership of private newspapers must show empathy and put the interest of their members above anything else.
