Speaking in a press briefing while closing the weeklong celebrations to mark the International Archives Day, the Director of Archives in the Ministry of Culture, Dr. Michael Ngwang, held that the culture of archives help reduce corruption and promote good governance in a country.

According to him, documents that are kept in the archives by their successors, creators or an appropriate archive institution because of their importance or historical significance, all make up cultural heritage.

The occasion was used by the Ministry of Arts and Culture, to complement treatment of archives and raise public awareness of the importance of archives.

Also, an open day exhibit took place at the National Archives in Yaoundé showcasing the growth of the city of Yaoundé through old and new pictures.

For her part, the Minister of Culture, Ama Tutu Muna, urge government institutions to inculcate the culture of archives and records management since they add to the collective memory of Cameroon.

“The issue of archives through conservation and preservation is very crucial for a country like Cameroon that is doing everything to stop corruption,” the Minister said.

Cameroon is celebrating International Archives Day for the second time since 2007 when it was instituted in 2007, by the United Nations in response to a request from the International Council on Archives.

The International Archives Day was celebrated with the theme: “The Contribution of Archives in Administrative Performance: Stakes and Challenges”.

It was created on 2007 and Cameroon is celebrating it for the second time.