What Ghana’s film archive mandate and UNESCO preservation project cover

Ghana’s film authority has an archive function in law

Section 3 assigns the National Film Authority responsibility for establishing and maintaining a National Film Archive. The provision records a mandate. Collection inventories and catalogues would identify material held. Source 1

The UNESCO project covers Ghana and Mali

The public project record gives a 2026 to 2027 period and describes the work as ongoing as of Q2 2026. Its scope is documentary heritage at risk, which can extend beyond film materials. Source 3

An inventory comes before some preservation decisions

The UNESCO project lists identifying at-risk material as a separate objective from strengthening institutions’ ability to conserve it. An inventory can record what exists and where it is held. Conservation and access require additional work. Source 3

Access and preservation require separate planning

UNESCO’s recommendation addresses preserving and making documentary heritage available, including in digital form. The project’s capacity and public awareness objectives follow that distinction. The published objectives do not quantify the films digitised or made available. Source 2 Source 3

Sources

• Ghana Development and Classification of Film Act 2016, section 3(e)(ii)
• UNESCO 2015 Recommendation on documentary heritage, including in digital form
• UNESCO, project 537RAF5001, advancing preservation and accessibility of African documentary heritage