Accra Technical University (ATU), in collaboration with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has organised a one-day Training of Trainers (ToT) Workshop aimed at strengthening efforts to preserve indigenous knowledge through digitisation and community-led archiving initiatives.
Held on April 30, 2026, at the ATU Research Commons under the Collaborative Archival and Community Stewardship Ghana (CACASG) Project, the workshop brought together stakeholders from traditional councils, academia, archival institutions, media organisations, museums, and community groups to explore practical approaches to documenting and preserving local knowledge systems.
The workshop formed part of ongoing efforts to build capacity in community archiving across Ghana and Africa by equipping participants with practical skills in digital preservation, oral history documentation, metadata creation, and sustainable archival practices.
Opening the workshop, facilitators and organisers highlighted the importance of preserving indigenous knowledge, oral traditions, cultural expressions, and local histories that are often undocumented and vulnerable to being lost over time. Participants were encouraged to see communities as custodians of heritage and active contributors to preserving and managing their own histories.
The training was led by Prof. Chris Prom of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, together with Dr. Florence Plockey and Mr. Donus W. Buadi. Through presentations, discussions, demonstrations, and practical exercises, participants were introduced to digital archiving principles and explored methods for creating sustainable community archives that remain community-owned and culturally sensitive.
Sessions covered a wide range of areas, including digital archives and preservation planning, oral history collection, scanning and digitisation processes, metadata creation, community engagement strategies, and opportunities for funding and sustaining archival projects. Participants also took part in hands-on activities that challenged them to identify culturally valuable materials within their communities and develop practical plans for preserving them digitally.
Discussions during the workshop also brought attention to broader issues affecting community archiving efforts, particularly funding limitations and societal perceptions surrounding indigenous knowledge. Participants emphasised the need to reposition indigenous knowledge as an important resource for community identity and national development while strengthening partnerships to support preservation initiatives.
In his closing remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Accra Technical University, Prof. Amevi Acakpovi, expressed appreciation to the facilitators, participants, and partners for their commitment throughout the workshop. He encouraged participants to sustain the networks created and apply the knowledge gained within their communities. He further noted that the growing collaboration between ATU and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign presents opportunities for future research, training, and community engagement initiatives in archival studies and related fields.
The workshop ended with the presentation of certificates to participants and an exchange of gifts between the Vice-Chancellor and the lead facilitator, marking the close of the training and reaffirming the shared commitment to advancing community archiving practices in Ghana.