The Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) has been commended for its remarkable initiative in digitizing the company's extensive archives, providing a robust platform for seamless research work.
During his visit to the GCGL Digital Unit in Accra on Monday, June 12, 2023, Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah expressed satisfaction with the ongoing process and encouraged the company to make the digitized materials readily available to the public.
The Minister enthusiastically remarked, "I am thrilled to witness the incredible progress of this endeavor and the ease with which journalists can now reference and download materials for their work or personal use."
Highlighting the alignment between GCGL's efforts and the country's overall policy direction, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah remarked, "the work being done by the company is truly impressive, as it perfectly fits into the transformative path our nation is moving towards."
The digital scanning of documents, photographs, and capturing information from various GCGL brands, spanning the period from 1950 to 2002, has been accomplished so far. Initiated in March of the previous year, the project has progressed steadily and is now approximately 70% complete.
The Information Service sector itself has undergone a gradual transformation over the past few years, with recent months witnessing a significant intensification of efforts. This, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah highlighted similar ongoing transformation exercise with the Information Service Department (ISD) and encouraged other institutions and agencies to draw inspiration from GCGL's pioneering steps towards embracing the digital space.
"Institutions must not remain mired in outdated practices but should actively explore new methods and skills to deliver enhanced value to their customers," emphasized the Minister.
Anticipating the imminent launch of the Digital Space, Mr. Ato Afful, the Managing Director of GCGL, expressed optimism and encouraged the public to leverage this groundbreaking platform for their benefit. The Digital Space will make information and activities dating back to the 1950s readily available and easily accessible to those seeking valuable insights.
Mr. Afful further explained that individuals would be able to access digitalized archived material, featuring fascinating information to assist them in their work. Utilizing a convenient keyword system, users will be able to retrieve information by simply entering relevant terms such as names, events, or locations. The material will be accessible upon the payment of a nominal fee via online payment platforms such as mobile money or Visa. Additionally, individuals can visit the Graphic Digital Unit in person to access information and receive personalized assistance from the unit's technical experts.
This, the Head of Archives and Digital Unit at GCGL, Mr. William Ashaley, expressed hope that the digitization process would reach completion by the end of July. Ashaley underlined the potential for collaboration with other institutions to digitize their materials. However, he stressed the need for financial support, as digitization endeavors entail significant expenses.
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