Following a series of successful international screening tours, the acclaimed documentary “The Eyes of Ghana” is set to make its long-awaited debut on home soil.
Compiled by veteran Ghanaian filmmaker, cinematographer and photographer Chris Hesse, the feature-length documentary will screen twice in Accra this month.
The first showing is scheduled for Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 6:00 PM at the National Theatre of Ghana. The second screening will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 5:00 PM at the Cedi Conference Centre Auditorium, University of Ghana.
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“The Eyes of Ghana” offers a comprehensive look at the country’s formative years and post-independence history, with a strong focus on the era of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The film draws on decades of rare archival footage captured by Chris Hesse, who served as Nkrumah’s personal photographer and is regarded as one of the nation’s most revered visual historians.
By compiling this extensive visual archive, the documentary tells Ghana’s story from independence through to modern times, seen through the unique lens of an insider who documented key historical moments.
The documentary credits list an impressive lineup of producers, including Nana Adwoa Frimpong, Ben Proudfoot, and Anita Afonu, alongside executive producers Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and John Akomfrah, with contributions from Anita Afonu, Chris Hesse, and Edmund Addo on dialogues and narrations.
The organisers say “The Eyes of Ghana” promises not only to educate viewers but also to instil a renewed sense of national pride and connection to the country’s past. Aside screening, the film crew will be present at both screenings to engage with audiences, sharing insights into the background and production process behind the project.
Admission is free for all.
About Chris Hesse
Rev. Dr. Christian Tsui Hesse, known as Chris Hesse, is a Ghanaian cinematographer, filmmaker, and photographer. He began his career in 1954 at the West African Film School and rose to prominence as the personal cinematographer and photographer to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first Prime Minister and President.
Hesse documented key moments of Ghana’s independence era, pan-African initiatives, and nation-building efforts from 1956 to 1966. He also filmed the Congo Crisis in 1960 as the first Ghanaian war cameraman and contributed to feature films like Love Brewed in the African Pot (1980),His Majesty’s Sergeant (1984) and Heritage Africa (1989).
