The Public Records and Archives Administration Department (PRAAD) has called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to preserve Ghana’s documentary heritage and strengthen records management systems.
The Department said effective archives management was critical to promoting transparency, accountability, national development, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
Mr Gregory Septimus Setse, Director of PRAAD, made the call at a symposium organised to climax the celebration of International Archives Week 2026 in Accra. He described archives as the nation’s collective memory and said they were far more than historical records.
”They are evidence of government actions, instruments of accountability, sources of knowledge, and foundations of research, education and cultural identity,” he said.
Mr Setse said the commemoration offered an opportunity to reflect on the importance of archives in preserving national memory and enabling future generations to learn from past experiences.
He noted that information management, digital transformation and public access to records had become increasingly important in modern governance, requiring institutions to adapt to technological advancements while safeguarding the authenticity, integrity and accessibility of records in both physical and digital formats.
Mr Setse said PRAAD remained committed to strengthening records management systems, preserving valuable archives, promoting public access to information and supporting institutions to manage records effectively.
He stressed that achieving those objectives required collaboration among government agencies, educational institutions, professional associations, development partners and the public.
Mr Setse said activities undertaken during the week-long celebration sought to raise awareness of the significance of archives, promote professional knowledge sharing, showcase archival collections and deepen appreciation of the role of archives in governance and cultural preservation.
The symposium featured a presentation by the Archivists and Records Managers Association of Ghana (ARMAG) on the topic: “Archives, Access to Information and Citizens’ Rights.”
The Association described archives as living repositories of evidence, memory and accountability that documented government policies, administrative decisions, development projects and public services.
ARMAG said archives were indispensable in ensuring access to information, which remained a cornerstone of democratic governance.
It said democracy thrived when citizens had access to reliable, authentic and timely information to participate meaningfully in public affairs and hold institutions accountable.
”Archives are the bridge between government action and public accountability,” the Association said.
ARMAG said weak archival systems undermined transparency, reduced accountability and eroded public confidence.
The Association noted that effective records and archives management systems were essential for implementing the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), because information could only be disclosed when records were properly created, organised, maintained and preserved.
It expressed concern about persistent challenges confronting records management in many institutions, including weak filing systems, inadequate classification structures, poor records control mechanisms and continued reliance on paper-based records.
ARMAG also cited limited awareness of the value of archives, resource constraints and emerging challenges associated with digital records, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity threats.
To address the challenges, the Association called on the Government to prioritise records management as a strategic national asset and provide adequate resources for training, logistics and infrastructure development.
It urged institutions to establish robust records management programmes, accelerate digitisation efforts, strengthen professional development for archivists and records managers, and enhance collaboration among PRAAD, government institutions, academia, civil society organisations and development partners.
The Association also advocated intensified public education on citizens’ rights to information and strict compliance with records management policies, standards and legal frameworks.
Twellium Industrial Company Limited, in a goodwill message, expressed solidarity with PRAAD and said strong institutions, strategic partnerships and disciplined collaboration were essential to national development.
The company said archives played an important role in documenting people, preserving evidence of activities and serving as valuable sources of information for research and national development.
Participants reaffirmed the need for collective action to strengthen records and archives systems to support transparency, access to information and good governance in Ghana.
The International Archives Week 2026 was held on the theme: “Archives at the Centre of Transparency, Development and Good Governance – A Collaborative Process.”
