Ghana’s Lost Film Treasures Return to the Screen as Chris Hesse’s Legacy Shines

Ghana’s Lost Film Treasures Are Coming Back to Life

Imagine watching Ghana’s independence celebrations as if you were standing among the crowds yourself. That is the experience historic film footage can offer, and a new screening at the University of Media, Arts and Communication’s Institute of Film and Television (UniMAC-IFT) is bringing that history back into focus.

The screening will showcase historic footage connected to veteran Ghanaian cinematographer Rev. Dr Chris Hesse, whose camera captured important moments in Ghana’s history. The event is drawing attention to the importance of preserving the country’s film heritage and making it accessible to younger generations.

Hesse holds a special place in Ghanaian film history. He served as the personal cameraman of Ghana’s first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, documenting significant national events and moments from an important period in the country’s development. His work provides a visual record of Ghana’s political journey, cultural life and early years of independence.

The footage is more than a collection of old pictures. It offers a chance to see the people, places and events that helped shape modern Ghana. Through these recordings, viewers can gain a better understanding of the atmosphere surrounding historic occasions and the experiences of people who lived through them.

For film students and young creatives, the screening also offers a valuable opportunity to learn from the past. They can study how earlier filmmakers used cameras, lighting and storytelling to document events before the arrival of modern digital technology.

But there is another reason this event matters: old film footage does not last forever.

Many historical recordings were made on film materials that can deteriorate over time, especially when exposed to unsuitable storage conditions. Without proper preservation and, where possible, digitisation, important images may disappear permanently. Losing them would mean losing valuable evidence of the past that future generations might never get the chance to see.

Preserving historic films also helps protect Ghanaian identity. Films can capture traditional music, fashion, architecture, public celebrations and everyday life in ways that written accounts cannot fully reproduce. They allow future generations to connect with their heritage through real images rather than descriptions alone.

Chris Hesse’s contribution reminds us that the people behind the camera can play a major role in preserving a nation's memory. As UniMAC-IFT brings this footage before audiences, the event offers a timely reminder that Ghana’s film history deserves attention, protection and continued appreciation.

Because when old films survive, the stories they carry can continue to speak long after the people who recorded them are gone.