Fund For Documentation Of Archival Collections In Ghana Launched

The Gramaphone Records, Museum and Research Centre of Ghana the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and the Information Services Department have jointly launched an appeal for funds to undertake a project to collect and document historical materials on Ghana. The project is to serve as a national data bank to enhance research studies in the country. According to the Director of the Gramaphone Records Museum and Research Centre, Mr.. Kwame Sarpong, the project will involve the collection and documentation of both oral and written history of Ghana since the colonial era. The collections include the speeches of politicians and prominent personalities in Ghana, interviews, seminars, sporting achievements and international treaties and agreements signed by Ghana. Published and unpublished music from the early part of the 19th century to the early seventies as well as pictures and films on Ghana from the colonial era to the present day will also be documented. Mr.. Sarpong said all the material collected will be stored on compact discs, audio and video cassettes for easy access by the public. He hoped the exercise would promote inter-cultural dialogue between Ghana and the rest of the world. The project which is to last five years is estimated to cost $180,000.00. The Director of Administration of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Mr.. Seth Sosu, who officially launched the appeal for funds, said GBC will make available all photographs and documented material at its photo and gramaphone libraries. He described the project as a landeble and important venture worthy of support saying, it will lay a solid foundation for posterity. Mr.. Sosu appealed to NGOs, foreign missions, corporate entities and philanthropists to contribute generously to the fund to make the project a success. Gramaphone Records Museums Corporation in collaboration with the information Services Department have put on compact discs and audio cassettes, selected speeches and statements made by Ghana's First President Dr.. Kwame Nkrumah during the independence struggle and the period he was president until he was over thrown by the military in February 1966. The recordings were formally outdoored in March this year to mark Ghana's 40th Independence anniversary.

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