Rare black-and-white footage from 31 July 1965 has resurfaced online, showing Ghana's first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, formally switching on Ghana Television (GTV). The footage, shared widely on social media, shows large crowds applauding as Nkrumah arrived at the launch venue, with bulky television cameras being wheeled around by technicians as officials and invited guests looked on. Hundreds of Ghanaians once crowded around a handful of television sets scattered across the country, straining to catch a glimpse of history in the making.
GTV went live at 4:00pm that Saturday, making Ghana one of the earliest countries on the African continent to establish a national television broadcaster. At the inauguration ceremony, Nkrumah described the new medium's purpose in nation-building terms, stating that television should serve "education in the broadest and purest sense." His remarks framed GTV not merely as an entertainment outlet but as a tool for national development and social transformation.
Nkrumah's vision for GTV was consistent with the broader modernisation drive he pursued in the years following Ghana's independence. The launch of GTV marked a significant milestone in Ghanaian media history, with the station continuing to operate as one of Ghana's leading television stations, now run under the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.
The original site of the 1965 launch reportedly still stands, serving as a physical marker of that pioneering moment in Ghanaian media history. The clip's resurfacing comes just days after Nkrumah's daughter, Samia Nkrumah, led NkrumahFest 2026 commemorations at Nkroful, the late president's hometown.
For many Ghanaians, the footage offers a rare visual link to a period often discussed only in textbooks and political speeches. It illustrates how television, now a fixture in homes across the country, began as a communal experience shared by crowds gathered around a single set rather than the individualised viewing common today.
The resurfacing of the footage has sparked reflection among social media users on Ghana's early development ambitions under Nkrumah's administration. GhanaWeb notes that the video has generated significant interest, with users sharing their thoughts on the country's progress since the launch of GTV.
There is no confirmation of who originally recorded or uploaded the clip, nor details on where the original archive is held. None of the source reports indicate any official commemorations, anniversary events, or further releases of archival footage planned around the 1965 GTV launch.
Key points
- The footage shows large crowds applauding as Nkrumah launched GTV.
- GTV was launched on 31 July 1965.
- Nkrumah envisioned GTV as a tool for national development and social transformation.
