……through the power of the arts
As Ghana officially launches PANAFEST and Emancipation Day 2025, reaffirming her commitment to honouring African heritage and promoting unity among people of African descent, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Abla Dzifa Gomashie officially launched the event, addressing concerns about the loss of historical awareness among the younger generation.
She stressed the need to reintroduce conversations about heritage in ways that are relevant and accessible. “If our children don’t understand why we are doing this, then nobody will be doing it,” she stated. She reflected on the stronger communal understanding she observed during her participation in Emancipation Day celebrations in Trinidad and Tobago, and encouraged deeper engagement in Ghana. “Some of what we do is spiritual. Some of it is because we must honour the forebears, those on whose shoulders we stand,” she added.
This year’s celebration is being held under the theme ’Let Us Speak of Reparative Justice – Pan‑African Artistic Activism’.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Maame Efua Houadjeto, underlined Ghana’s continued role in strengthening ties between Africans on the continent and those in the diaspora. “This launch is not just a ceremony; it is a statement… Ghana, as the Gateway to Africa, continues to open its arms to the African family at home and abroad… PANAFEST 2025 becomes a sacred ground upon which our collective trauma finds healing through the power of the arts,” she said.
PANAFEST and Emancipation Day are commemorative events rooted in remembrance, healing and reconnection.
PANAFEST, which began in 1992, brings together people of African descent from across the globe to engage in cultural expression, historical reflection and dialogue. It confronts the painful legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade while celebrating African resilience and creativity.
Emancipation Day, observed alongside PANAFEST, honours the abolition of slavery and pays tribute to the strength of those who endured it. Together, they offer a space where the past is acknowledged not with sorrow alone, but with purpose, solidarity and the hope of a more unified future.
Activities for the 2-week programme will span across key historical sites in Tamale, Salaga, Cape Coast, Bono Manso and Assin Manso. The events will include commemorative ceremonies, heritage site visits, diaspora dialogues, youth and academic discussions, cultural showcases, a Mini-PANAFEST African Market and a Creative Explosion Concert, with more emphasis placed on public education, reparative dialogue and community participation.
The country remains focused on advancing heritage-led development and inclusive dialogue as part of a larger commitment to justice, cultural preservation and long-term partnerships with the African diaspora.
PANAFEST 2025 is an open call to engage, contribute and support a collective journey toward shared memory and meaningful action.
