By Hafsa Obeng GNA
Accra, Dec. 17, GNA — Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has opened two photography exhibitions at the Dikan Centre in Accra.
The exhibitions, organised by the Dikan Centre in collaboration with the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), were held on the theme: “Preserving Ghana: The living archives of a nation.”
Madam Gomashie said the exhibitions underscored the importance of preservation, archiving and creative documentation in safeguarding Ghana’s national identity.
She said, “this is not just photography; it is love made visible,” describing the exhibitions as a testament to Ghana’s lived experiences, memories and cultural resilience.
Madam Gomashie commended President John Dramani Mahama for recognising that culture transcends “drumming and dancing,” and for acknowledging heritage and creativity as key drivers of national development.
She said culture, when preserved and promoted, had the power to shape national consciousness, inspire innovation and strengthen social cohesion.
The Minister paid tribute to the late Emmanuel Bobie, whose photographic collection, Ghana: The Journey Within, forms a central part of the exhibition.
She said his work captured the dignity, resilience and everyday realities of Ghanaians, preserving moments that tell the nation’s story.
Madam Gomashie commended the Dikan Centre for transforming archives into “living classrooms” through digitisation, research and public access.
She described its collaboration with the GAF as an example of “living culture,” where history was actively taught and engaged with.
The minister stressed the need to reconnect Ghanaian youth with their heritage, noting that societies were incomplete when cultural assets and historical records were kept outside the continent.
She said access to heritage was essential for identity formation and national pride.
Mr Kofi Kwakwa, Chairman of the Dikan Centre, said societies that lost access to their collective memory risked losing their future.
He said archives were essential tools for understanding the present and shaping the future.
Mr Paul Ninson, Executive Director of Dikan, outlined the Centre’s work through the AWO Institute, noting that millions of records had been digitised, including extensive Ghana Armed Forces archives and major collections documenting Ghana’s music history.
Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, Acting Director-General of the Department of Public Relations, GAF, said the collaboration with Dikan had produced remarkable results in just over a year.
She said more than 70 million Armed Forces records had been processed, conserved and digitised, describing the achievement as historic and transformative.
Captain Arhin said the preservation effort enhanced transparency, strengthened institutional memory and improved public understanding of the Armed Forces’ role in Ghana’s development.
she said that 25 Armed Forces personnel had been trained by Dikan and were now working alongside its professionals, building specialised capacity that could support other state institutions.
Dignitaries later toured the exhibitions and archival facilities.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey