Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has lauded Rev. Christian Tsui Hesse, the celebrated personal photographer of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, recognizing his life’s work as an invaluable treasure for the nation’s collective memory.

The Vice President shared these sentiments in a Facebook post following a visit to Rev. Hesse’s residence, expressing her deep honour at meeting the man whose photographs immortalized pivotal moments of Ghana’s independence and the Pan-African movement.

“His contribution is not something any nation can forget,” Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stated, emphasizing the enduring impact of his iconic images on understanding Ghana’s political and cultural journey across generations.

“It gives me, at a very personal level, a lot of joy to be here to meet with you in person,” she added. “Your name is not something that is missing in our history… what you have done is not something that any nation can forget.”

Professor Opoku-Agyemang commended Rev. Hesse’s unwavering dedication to preserving historical negatives and protecting national archives, acknowledging the significant obstacles he faced, including insufficient institutional backing. She highlighted the difficulties he encountered “even getting us as a nation to play our role in the preservation” of these crucial records.

The Vice President assured Rev. Hesse of the government’s renewed commitment to safeguarding and effectively utilizing this priceless visual heritage. She underscored the importance of accurately preserving and sharing these stories, given Nkrumah’s profound legacy of Pan-Africanism for both Ghana and the continent.

“What I can do here is to assure you on behalf of the nation to do whatever we can to ensure that we are owning this resource and using it to the best advantage,” she pledged.

Rev. Chris Hesse is widely acclaimed as one of Ghana’s most distinguished cinematographers and filmmakers. His unique position as Nkrumah’s personal photographer provided him with unparalleled access to major political events throughout Africa, resulting in a historical archive of unmatched breadth and cultural importance.

Concluding her message, the Vice President expressed her gratitude to Rev. Hesse for his “extraordinary service to our nation” and extended her prayers for his continued strength and well-being.

Image Source: MYJOYONLINE