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The country has launched its national Memory of the World Register, marking a significant step towards preserving and promoting its documentary heritage.
The national register will identify and recognise documentary materials of national significance, such as the original copies of Ghana’s 1957 Independence documents, speeches and writings of Kwame Nkrumah, records from the 1960 Republican Constitution and archival material on major political transitions and military regimes.
It would also position them for possible inclusion on regional and international registers, thus, together, preserving the world's collective memory.
The initiative forms part of the global UNESCO Memory of the World Programme, which aims to ensure the preservation and dissemination of the world's documentary heritage, including valuable archival holdings and library and museum collections globally.
Launching the register in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, said the move marked a critical moment in preserving the country’s history.
“Ghana’s story must be preserved. From the rise of our ancient kingdoms, through our hard-won independence to the progress we continue to make, our journey deserves to be protected and remembered,” he said.
Dr Apaak said the country’s history was embedded in various forms of records across institutions and communities.
He said that story lived in books, monographs, archives, photographs and audiovisual records held in various institutions, within communities, in homes and even beyond the country’s borders.
“Each record carries a voice from the past and offers insight into who we are and where we came from,” he said.
Dr Apaak commended the Public Records and Archives Administration Department (PRAAD) for its role in preserving the nation’s archives and acknowledged the contributions of universities, libraries, museums and cultural institutions.
He urged public and private institutions to support the initiative by nominating materials, backing digitisation efforts and participating in training programmes.
“This is a shared responsibility, and together we can achieve lasting results,” he said.
The Deputy Education Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernising archival systems, training professionals and investing in digital infrastructure to equip institutions to meet current and future demands.
Dr Apaak emphasised the broader value of documentary heritage, noting that it served as a vital tool for education and research.
“It provides students, researchers and citizens with reliable sources to explore Ghana’s past, draw lessons from it and find inspiration for the future,” he said.
“Ghana’s story is one of resilience, great culture and continuity.
Through this register, we present our collective memory and connect our heritage to the broader story of our common humanity,” he added.
The Chairperson of the Ghana National Committee for the Memory of the World Programme, Helena Asamoah-Hassan, said the national register carried the same weight for Ghana as the international register did for the world.
She explained that the register played a central role in shaping national identity, stating that documentary materials, whether historical manuscripts, digital archives or audiovisual records, provided a clear record of the country’s origins, present state and future direction.
Ms Asamoah-Hassan stressed that the focus must now shift from listing items to ensuring their preservation and accessibility.
“We now need to protect these physical and digital objects from decay and loss.
We must take serious action in their preservation, make sure they are accessible for research and general use, and keep them in safe custody so future generations can connect to their ancestors,” she said.
Dr Asamoah-Hassan cautioned that failure to take urgent action would defeat the purpose of establishing the register.
The Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Hiroshi Yoshimoto, called for stronger collaboration among institutions and development partners to protect Ghana’s documentary heritage.
He described the initiative as an important step in preserving the country’s history and ensuring that future generations have access to reliable records.
Mr Yoshimoto said Japan continued to support UNESCO’s work in education, culture and science through dedicated funding arrangements, which had helped drive projects in heritage preservation, literacy and institutional development.
According to him, the Ghana register was being supported through one of such funding mechanisms in partnership with UNESCO.
He added that Japan placed a high value on documentary preservation, having drawn inspiration from its experience with natural disasters and major historical changes, which has reinforced the need to protect records as a way of safeguarding national identity and culture.
“Ghana’s effort to document and include its heritage in the Memory of the World Register will raise awareness across Africa and signal the country’s commitment to preserving its history, Ambassador Yoshimoto said.
