The University of Media, Arts and Communication – Institute of Film and Television (UniMAC-IFT), in partnership with the Ghana Academy of Film and Television Arts (GAFTA), has launched the Central Film Library Analogue Video Digitisation Project to safeguard Ghana’s endangered cinematic and cultural legacy.
Launched on July 17, 2025, at the UniMAC-IFT library, the initiative aims to digitise over 300 fragile VHS tapes, including rare documentaries, state films, educational campaigns, and historical footage from Ghana’s First Republic and the Ghana Film Industry Corporation (GFIC).
Described as both “a rescue mission and a rebirth” by Prof. Winston Aborampa, Pro Vice-Chancellor of UniMAC, the digitisation centre is equipped with high-resolution scanners, climate-controlled vaults, and collaborative spaces for research and content creation.
Supported by UCLA Library’s Modern Endangered Archives Program (MEAP) with funding from ARCADIA, the project is the result of four years of research by Dr Rebecca Ohene-Asah and Mr George Bosompim of UniMAC-IFT. Dr Ohene-Asah emphasized the project’s significance in preserving national memory and bridging Ghana’s past and future through digital preservation.
The centre will also serve as a training hub for students in archival science and restoration. Currently, ten trainees are involved in the digitisation process.
UniMAC-IFT Rector Prof. Samuel Manasseh Yirenkyi and GAFTA President Dr Fara Awindor hailed the project as a legacy of collaboration between academia and industry. Dr Awindor described the tapes as “cultural time capsules” and praised the partnership for fostering long-term impact on national storytelling.
The two-year project will restore and catalogue the materials, making them accessible to researchers and creatives. A tour of the facility concluded the launch event, which was attended by stakeholders from academia, media, and the creative arts sector.
Prof. Aborampa added that the centre not only preserves history but also boosts content creation and commercial opportunities in Ghana’s film industry.