Under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts of Ghana, the University of Ghana, in collaboration with UNESCO, the Ghana Commission for UNESCO, and partner institutions, will organize a webinar on Underwater Cultural Heritage, with a focus on the Gulf of Guinea, on July 31, 2026.
The webinar is being organized in connection with the 25th Anniversary of the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, which Ghana ratified in 2015
The webinar will provide a platform for scholars, heritage professionals, policymakers, students, and other stakeholders to discuss the significance of underwater cultural heritage, its protection, conservation, and sustainable management.
The event aims to raise awareness of the importance of submerged archaeological sites, shipwrecks, and other underwater cultural resources as valuable elements of humanity’s shared heritage. It will also highlight international efforts to safeguard underwater cultural heritage and explore opportunities for research, capacity-building, and cooperation in Africa and beyond, and the potential of the blue economy.
The webinar aligns with UNESCO’s commitment to the protection of cultural heritage in all its forms and reflects the principles of UNESCO’s cultural conventions and linkages. It contributes to broader discussions on heritage preservation, education, scientific research, and sustainable development, including the objectives of the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.
Participants will have the opportunity to engage with experts and exchange knowledge on the way forward for UCH research, examine emerging challenges of UCH within the Gulf of Guinea, and help shape best practices in the field of UCH.
Invitation to participate:
Please save the date: July 31, 2026
and register: Webinar Registration – Zoom
Alternatively, you may refer to the PDF attached and click on the registration link to register: Underwater Cultural Heritage Webinar
Time: 2pm-4pm GMT
Additional reading/viewing:
