Accra, April 13, GNA - Vice President Aliu Mahama on Wednesday launched a well-researched book on strategic management, entitled "Strategic Orientation and Business Planning," and encouraged Ghanaians to empower themselves with its knowledge to be able to take advantage of the Golden Age of Business.

He noted: "The book fits perfectly into the agenda of the nation as we strive to create the Golden Age of Business. Moreover, the tenets espoused in this book are firmly embedded in the framework of corporate good governance, which happens to be one of the pillars of the NEPAD initiatives."

Professor Kwaku Adu-Appiah, a former lecturer, researcher and strategy consultant with world-class experience, who now heads the Policy Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of the Office of the President, authored the 178-page book.

Based on a collection of research reports, it covers issues such as Strategic Management, Benchmarking, Market Orientation and Organisational Learning, Organisational Culture and Customer Orientation in about seven chapters.

Graphic Packaging Limited designed and printed the book, whose forward was written by Dr Sam Jonah, OBE.

Vice President Mahama praised the author for sharing his knowledge, which he gathered in his experiences around the world to propel his nation's growth.

He encouraged professionals in various parts of the economy to publish their knowledge for the benefit of their nation as their books would bridge the gap between research and practice.

Prof. Appiah-Adu, a recipient of the prestigious Amber Award for Literature expressed the hope that the book, his fifth, would guide Ghanaian companies to flourish through excellent corporate governance and fine competition that put the customer at the centre.

Mr Kwame Pianim, Chairman of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, who chaired the function, attended by leaders of government and private sector agencies, advocated the establishment of a think-tank to market Ghana globally.

He said though Ghana was on the right track to socio-economic progress, it needed a think-tank to spearhead its agenda through strategic planning, marketing and evaluation.

He also called for more attention to be given to the policy of domestication, saying relying on local knowledge, resources and the ability to develop was the best way forward.

Mr Berfi-Appenteng, Managing Director of Graphic Communications Group, appealed to the Government to review the taxes on raw materials for the printing of books as the 32 per cent rate made it cheaper to import books rather than produce them locally.

The first copy of the book, which costs 95,000 cedis on the bookstand, was auctioned for ten million cedis. 13 April 05