Accra: Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has officially launched the 17th edition of PANAFEST and Emancipation Day celebrations, calling on Ghanaians to recommit to unity, cultural pride, and collective healing. She emphasized the need for healing among Ghanaians and the diaspora, stating that without recognizing the deep impacts of historical events, true healing cannot occur.
According to Ghana News Agency, Madam Gomashie highlighted that PANAFEST extends beyond a mere festival. It is a spiritual, cultural, and intellectual movement that repositions Ghana as a homeland for people of African descent seeking reconnection and a shared sense of purpose. This year's celebration is underscored by global racial tensions, calls for reparative justice, and the reclamation of African identity.
Since its inception in 1992, PANAFEST has provided a platform for artistic expression, historical reflection, and diaspora connection. The event celebrates the abolition of slavery and the triumph of black resilience, while serving as a driver for national development and socioeconomic growth. It enhances Ghana's international reputation as a culturally rich destination and positions the nation as a leader in the global African renaissance.
The events offer diasporas an emotional entry point to reconnect with their ancestral land and provide platforms for cultural diplomacy, enabling collaborations among global artists and thinkers. They create spaces for healing and dialogue, confront historical injustices, and envision a redefined African identity, ultimately leading to economic transformation.
The Minister urged the media to amplify the visibility of the commemoration and promote Ghana as a recall for all African descendants. Prof. Esi Sutherland Addy, Chairperson of the PANAFEST Foundation, announced this year's theme: "Let us speak of reparative justice: Pan-African artistic activism." This theme focuses on the campaign for reparations and compensation for the harm done to African peoples and their descendants.
Prof. Addy emphasized the importance of recognizing and reclaiming African talents and cultural contributions. The commemoration celebrates African cultural resilience and the achievements of Africans despite the transatlantic slave trade. It serves as an inspiration for contemporary Africans to advance towards emancipation.
Maame Afua Houadjeto, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, stated that reparative justice is a necessity, demanding redress for historical injustices. She noted that PANAFEST 2025 will serve as a sacred ground for collective trauma healing through the arts, highlighting artistic activism as both protest and healing.
The Ghana Tourism Authority is committed to collaborating with the PANAFEST Foundation, the Ministry, and international partners to amplify and celebrate these voices. Activities will take place across historical sites in Tamale, Salaga, Cape Coast, Bono Manso, and Assin Manso. Events will include commemorative ceremonies, heritage site visits, diaspora dialogues, cultural showcases, and more.