James Barnor (born c.1929, Gold Coast [Now Ghana]) is a Ghanaian a photographer and one of the pioneering figures in West African photography. Barnor documented the transitional period of the British colony Gold Coast to the independent country of Ghana, as well as the diasporic, metropolitan life in London. Between studio photography and photojournalism, the work of James captures identities and societies in transition. In 2016, He was awarded the Order of the Volta, by President John Dramani Mahama at the National Honours and Awards Ceremony held at Accra International Conference Centre.