The Volta Regional office the Public Records and Archives Administration Department (PRAAD) which has been closed for refurbishment was last weekend re-opened to the public after six months.
The project was undertaken with funding from Gerda Henkel Foundation, Germany. The cost of executing the project is 48,000 Euros. The work was facilitated by Prof. Wazi Apoh, Development Archaeologist and Heritage Expert, Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, University of Ghana and Mrs Amy Pascalia Abrah Asimah, Assistant Librarian, Evangelical Presbyterian University College, Ho.
The refurbishment included the installation of air-conditioners and computers and modern record cabines. The also included the digitization of existing documents and a special training package for the staff on preservation, conservation, organisation and digitisation of archival records.
Speaking at the ceremony to re-open the facility, Prof. Apoh, underscored the importance of archives in the country’s social, economic and political journey and said they should, therefore, not be underrated. He indicated that he became interested in renovating and refurbishing the facility after he visited the Department to carry out some research work, disclosing that the facility has lots of rich materials, and urged students to take advantage of these materials to enrich their knowledge on past and present events.
Prof. Apoh added that most of the archival repositories were obscured, making it difficult for people to know of their existence, resulting in low patronage of rich materials in these facilities, and therefore, called for conscious efforts to make the presence of these repositories felt to the public.
He therefore, called on relevant authorities to develop comprehensive measures to add value to the various archival repositories across the country as they helped significantly in the work of researchers and students and also to attract people to make use of them.
Madam Thelmar Manye Ewosi, National Director of PRAAD, in a speech read on her behalf by Mr Maxwell Ampofo, said the role of PRAAD in national development cannot be underestimated. She said information management and records management in particular, played a critical role in capacity building, administrative reforms, good governance and democratisation.
She added that the availability of reliable records was essential for good governance in any system, adding that the reliability and sustainability in the management of public records were key factors to achieving efficiency.
Madam Ewosi disclosed that the National Archives Department played a critical role during the maritime boundary dispute case between Ghana and Ivory Coast, and would continue to deliver on its core mandate for national security and development.
She commended the facilitators and the Gerda Henkel Foundation for their support, saying the gesture could not have come at a better time, given the fact that “we are not in normal time” and was optimistic that the gesture would create opportunities for them for future engagements and cooperation in areas of common interest.
Madam Ewosi appealed to philanthropists, benevolent organisations, corporate bodies to support the Department in similar ways, so they could carry out their duties effectively to promote national development.
The Professor, who is also the Dean, School of Arts, He disclosed that some staff were also trained on record keeping, using modern technology among others, and a website had also been created for the Department for easy access to information as the world was gradually gravitating towards digitisation.
Earlier, Mr Elorm Dodzo Dorvlo, Volta Regional Head of PRAAD, expressed appreciation to the facilitators and the Foundation for giving a facelift to the building and equipped it with desktop and laptop computers and other relevant equipment for smooth running of their activities.
Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister, commended the facilitators and Gerda Henkel Foundation for making funds available for refurbishment of the Department. He indicated that the Regional Coordinating Council would provide the needed support to ensure the Department discharge its duties effectively and successfully.
Source: Kofi Belley, lakenewsonlinegh.com