Dr. Apaak leads push to safeguard national memory with heritage register

Deputy Education Minister Clement Apaak has led Ghana’s renewed push to preserve its history with the launch of a national documentary heritage register.

The initiative, unveiled in Accra on April 22, forms part of efforts under UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme to protect vital records that define the country’s identity.

Addressing stakeholders at the launch, Dr. Apaak stressed the urgency of safeguarding Ghana’s historical materials, stating, “Ghana’s story must be preserved.”

He explained that the country’s journey, from ancient civilisations to modern development, “deserves to be protected and remembered.”

He noted that the newly launched National Register provides “a clear and sustainable framework to identify, catalogue, and safeguard the documentary heritage that defines us.”

According to him, the initiative goes beyond preservation and contributes to shaping a stronger national future.

Dr. Apaak highlighted the role of archives in governance, describing them as “the living memory of our nation essential for accountability, research, education, creativity, and national development.” He added that effective records management “strengthens transparency and good governance” while protecting citizens’ rights.

The Deputy Minister also pointed to existing challenges, warning that “many records are deteriorating” amid limited resources and environmental threats. He called for innovation and collaboration across sectors to address these risks.

Linking the initiative to Ghana’s digital transformation agenda, Dr. Apaak emphasised the need to protect both physical and digital records. He said this is critical to ensuring long-term accessibility and proper management of national archives.

He further encouraged institutions and individuals to actively support the process by nominating important materials and participating in capacity-building programmes.

“This is a shared responsibility, and together, we can achieve lasting results,” he said.

The launch builds on Ghana’s growing role in global heritage preservation and positions the country to submit key collections to the international register.

Dr. Apaak maintained that preserving documentary heritage remains essential to national development, noting that it enables citizens to understand their past and draw lessons for the future.