Ivy Prosper Launches Campaign to Honour Legendary Filmmaker Chris Hesse with Ghana's Order of the Star

Ghanaian-Canadian media strategist Ivy Prosper has launched a public petition urging the Government of Ghana to award the prestigious Order of the Star of Ghana to Reverend Dr. Chris Tsui Hesse, one of Africa's most significant but underrecognised documentarians. The 94-year-old filmmaker spent over six decades capturing pivotal moments in Ghana's national history, from the final years of colonial rule through independence and beyond.

Hesse's most consequential act came following the 1966 military coup that toppled President Kwame Nkrumah's government. Rather than allowing over 1,000 reels of historic footage to be destroyed or lost—a real risk given the political upheaval—Hesse safeguarded this irreplaceable visual archive. This decision preserved Ghana's independence movement and liberation struggle for future generations at a time when African narratives were predominantly told through foreign eyes.

As the personal cinematographer to Ghana's first president, Hesse documented some of the nation's defining moments during its transition from Gold Coast colony to independent state. His work provides an invaluable indigenous perspective on Ghana's early national journey, a resource increasingly recognised by global institutions.

International Recognition and The Eyes of Ghana

Hesse's legacy has gained renewed prominence through the documentary The Eyes of Ghana, directed by two-time Academy Award winner Ben Proudfoot and executive produced by former U.S. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. The film chronicles Hesse's extraordinary career and his meticulous efforts to restore and digitise historic footage, making Ghana's independence era accessible to new audiences worldwide.

This international attention underscores a broader reality: while Hesse's contributions have earned respect in global film circles, recognition at home remains limited. Prosper's petition seeks to address this gap by calling on President John Dramani Mahama and the Government of Ghana to confer one of the nation's highest honours on the living legend.

Why It Matters for Ghana

The petition reflects a growing conversation about how Ghana and Africa value historical preservation and cultural heritage. Prosper emphasises that honouring Hesse sends a crucial message to future generations about the importance of documenting and protecting African narratives. In an era when African history is increasingly commodified and reinterpreted globally, the role of local guardians like Hesse becomes even more significant.

The Order of the Star of Ghana recognises individuals whose distinguished service advances the nation. Hesse's six decades of visual documentation, combined with his deliberate safeguarding of irreplaceable archives, align squarely with this criterion. Prosper notes that recognising Hesse while he is still alive—rather than posthumously—offers an opportunity for Ghana to publicly affirm its commitment to its own history.

The petition also appeals to Ghanaians both locally and in the diaspora, historians, filmmakers, cultural institutions, educators, and supporters of African heritage preservation. It represents a wider push to ensure that those who dedicate their lives to preserving African identity receive appropriate national recognition.

For Ghana, honouring Hesse would underscore the nation's role as a steward of African historical memory at a time when diaspora connections and cultural tourism remain significant national priorities.