A group photo of Management of GPA and Afram Publications
A total of four Senior High Schools across the country have been selected to debate solutions to copyright infringement and other challenges to commemorate this year’s Ghana International Book Fair, slated for August 20-23, 2025, at the National Theatre in Accra.
Organized by the Ghana Publishers Association (GPA) and Afram Publications Ghana Limited under the theme: “Inclusive Publishing, Celebrating Accessible Literature,” the event will host competing schools like Tema, Okuapeman, Swedru, and Winneba Senior High schools for the 5th GPA–Afram Publications Inter-Schools’ Debate.
The objective aims at affording five students (Debaters) from each of the four schools to pitch ideas that would help address the pertinent issues identified in the selected topics.
It is also aimed at building their communication skills as well as giving them an avenue to exchange knowledge.
Swedru SHS and Winneba SHS (Group A) have been charged with the responsibility of offering out-of-the-box suggestions to help curb the galamsey menace, which is destroying the environment.
On the other hand, debaters from Tema Senior High School and Okuapeman Senior High School, who form Group B, will debate whether discipline in schools is a result of deficiencies in the school curriculum.
Subsequently, the winning school from Group A will battle it out with the winner from Group B on the main topic: The publishing industry has been adversely affected by the lack of copyright enforcement: Do authors and publishers deserve copyright protection?
Board Chairperson of Afram Publications Limited, Professor Esi Sutherland-Addy said, “The idea is that we will have well-rounded personalities who are not just passing exams, but who have an interest in a wide range of topics and can contribute to society and take action based on strong ethical principles. The idea is also that we need to have a population that appreciates fun and can compete fairly and learn to accept both victory and defeat.”
Prof Sutherland-Addy further added, “We will continue to encourage schools as well as student-led clubs to develop the great skills inherent in debating, because debating requires that you search for knowledge.” she noted.
The Managing Director of Afram Publications Limited, Ms. Harriet Adelaide Tagoe, stated that “We believe the topics selected would influence our decision making.” As John F Kennedy (Former US President) said, “Without debate, without criticism, no administration and no country can succeed.”
She encouraged all participating schools to “prepare very well, so we can have an interesting and thought-provoking debate on the 20th of August, 2025.”
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke