Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL)

Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) is a large publisher in Ghana whose history goes back to 1964 when Mirror Group was sold by its private owners to the Ghana government. In 1999, the company was renamed Graphic Communications Group Ltd. GCGL publishes several newspapers, some of them with high popularity, including Daily Graphic and The Mirror.


Media assets

Publishing: Graphic Online, The Mirror, Graphic Showbiz, Graphic Sports, Junior Graphic, Graphic Business, Nsɛmpa

State Media Matrix Typology: Captured Public/State-Managed (CaPu)


Ownership and governance

GCGL is a fully state-owned registered media company. Its highest governing structure is the board of directors whose members are appointed by the government-controlled National Media Commission (NMC) in consultation with the President. GCGL’s managing director is also appointed by the President.

Source of funding and budget

GCGL, though fully owned by the state, is independent of government support. In fact, the company pays dividends to the government annually. Advertising and newspaper sales account for 52% and 48% of the company’s turnover, respectively, according to local journalists and experts. In 2019, GCGL had a turnover of GHS 71.34m (US$ 13.9m), according to company data. In 2020, GCGL reported a loss of GHS 1.94m, a major decline from the previous year when it earned a profit of GHS 1.41m, according to data from the company.  The company pulled in revenues of GHS 57.42m in 2020, according to a government report.

Editorial independence

GCGL is known to be editorially controlled by the government through the National Media Commission, which appoints the publisher’s management. An ad hoc content analysis also identified a strong bias in the content published by the newspapers run by GCGL, especially the Daily Graphic, with articles promoting the government and its activities. No criticism of authorities was identified.

No domestic statute and no independent oversight or assessment mechanism to validate the editorial independence of GCGL’s publications have been identified.

September 2023