Accra, Dec. 19, GNA - A new photo calendar dubbed "Ghana, through the Lens" that depicts the country's photographic heritage and history in the post-independence years was on Monday launched in Accra. The 14-page calendar was developed from the outstanding photograph archives of Willis E. Bell, a US photographer who lived and traveled extensively in Ghana during the 1950's until his death in 1999. Some of the descriptive scenes captured on the calendar included "road to the future", "new roads replace the old", "building a new nation" and "modernizing our textiles industry".

Mr Pierre Jacquemot, the French Ambassador in Ghana, and Mr Peter Linder, the German Ambassador who jointly launched the calendar said the project was as result of a French/German cultural cooperation with the Mmofra Foundation Archives Centre (MFAC) as part of activities to celebrate the country's 50th Independence Anniversary.

They said the selection of Willis Bells outstanding works for the calendar portrays Ghana's rich photographic heritage.

Mr Alf Bremer, an Urban Developer with the Goethe-Institute who worked on Willis Bell photo archive, said Bell was at the forefront of professional photography in Ghana, setting the standard in both artistic and commercial work between 1960's and 70's.

He said Bell was a pioneer in advertising for major companies and also the official portraitist for the government of Ghana. Mr Bremer said because of Bell's remarkable ability to capture characters, movement and nuance on film, he traveled the length and breath of Ghana, generating a compelling record of the country and its people.

He cited other interests of Wellis Bell as texture collection, art, architecture, landscaping, science, philosophy and farming. 19 Dec. 06