Ghana and Denmark are working towards strengthening their historical and cultural ties through a joint initiative to research, document and preserve their shared heritage.
Known as the Ghana-Denmark Cultural Heritage Initiative (GDERCH-2), it seeks to promote historical research, knowledge exchange and digital storytelling, while creating economic opportunities for communities through heritage tourism.
The initiative focuses on using digital technology to make historical narratives accessible to future generations.
It is being implemented on the theme: “Remembering shared pasts, shaping shared futures: Ghana-Denmark heritage through research and digital storytelling.”
Significance
The acting Executive Director of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB), Kwesi Essel Blankson, said: “The initiative will strengthen the preservation and documentation of Ghana and Denmark's shared heritage through research, institutional collaboration and digital storytelling.”
He said it would also support the preservation of historical sites, family archives and institutional records, while improving the documentation of the two countries' shared history.
Mr Blankson said the application of digital technology would ensure that historical information was preserved beyond physical monuments and made accessible to a wider audience.
He acknowledged the contributions of the University of Ghana's Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, the Embassy of Denmark and the project team towards the successful implementation of the initiative.
Collaboration
The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Yussif Issaka Jajah, said the collaboration presented an opportunity for Ghana and Denmark to examine their complex historical relationship through research and inclusive storytelling.
“The initiative provides an important platform for Ghana and Denmark to preserve their shared history, strengthen cultural cooperation and ensure that our heritage is documented and passed on to future generations,” he added.
Mr Jajah said digital exhibitions and documentation would also make Ghana's heritage more accessible to people across geographical boundaries.
Historical ties
The Ambassador of Denmark to Ghana, Mr Jakob Linulf, said the historical relationship between Ghana and Denmark spanned more than 400 years, from the painful period of the transatlantic slave trade to the present cordial relations between the two countries.
He described Osu as an important location in that shared history, saying the area had played a significant role in shaping the Gold Coast and modern Ghana.
“Denmark is fully committed to working with you and with Ghana to tell the stories and preserve Osu's cultural heritage,” the ambassador added.
Economic value
The Dean of the School of Arts at the University of Ghana, Professor Osman Apoh, said the project could transform historical heritage into economic opportunities for local communities.
He encouraged owners of monuments associated with Ghanaian-Danish heritage to submit proposals for Danish funding to support the conservation and restoration of the buildings.
Prof. Apoh said that under the initiative, signage and QR codes would be introduced at selected heritage sites to enable visitors to access historical information through an online repository.
“Heritage preservation must go beyond protecting historical buildings; it must also create economic opportunities for local communities through tourism and community-led management,” he said.
Prof. Apoh further said that the initiative sought to shift heritage tourism management towards local communities to enable residents to participate actively in managing the sites and retaining the economic benefits.
