Accra, Ghana – The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has officially launched the 2025 edition of PANAFEST and Emancipation Day celebrations, unveiling an ambitious and culturally immersive programme under the theme, “Let Us Speak of Reparative Justice: Artistic Activism.”
The launch event, held in Accra, brought together a distinguished audience of government officials, cultural leaders, artists, historians, and representatives from the African diaspora, marking the beginning of a year-long movement toward reconnection, remembrance, and healing. The celebrations will culminate in a series of flagship events from July 18 to August 1, 2025.
Framing the festival as a “movement” rather than a mere event, Hon. Gomashie called for renewed commitment to healing historical wounds and restoring cultural pride. She highlighted the critical role of the youth in carrying the legacy forward, emphasizing the need to reconnect them with Africa’s rich heritage. In a significant announcement, she introduced the Black Star Experience, a new flagship initiative aimed at positioning Ghana as the premier destination for heritage tourism and diaspora engagement.
“Cultural tourism is not just about history. It is a driver of economic empowerment,” she noted, referencing Ghana’s impressive $2.7 billion tourism revenue in 2022, with projections of $3.8 billion for 2023. “Through initiatives like PANAFEST and the Black Star Experience, we are creating jobs, telling our own stories, and building bridges across continents.”
Renowned cultural scholar Professor Esi Sutherland-Addy delivered a powerful keynote, asserting that reparative justice must go beyond symbolism to include material restitution and institutional reform. She cited the continued possession of African artifacts by Western institutions and the celebration of colonial figures as evidence of enduring injustice. “Reparations must be real. It is about reclaiming what was taken—not just physically, but spiritually and systemically,” she stressed.
Prominent historian Professor Kwesi Yankah echoed these sentiments, advocating for a radical shift in Ghana’s education system to center African history and identity. “Our children must know that our story did not begin with slavery,” he said, tracing Africa’s narrative from ancient civilizations through colonial disruptions to modern-day resilience. He also paid tribute to the late Prof. Efua Sutherland, whose pioneering work laid the groundwork for PANAFEST.
Ghana Tourism Authority CEO Maame Efua Houadjeto affirmed Ghana’s role as a spiritual and cultural beacon for the Pan-African world. “Ghana is the gateway to Africa’s memory, identity, and justice,” she said, noting that several countries including Barbados, Brazil, the UK, and Jamaica have already confirmed their participation.
As Ghana gears up to host global visitors for the 2025 PANAFEST and Emancipation Day, the event is poised to serve not only as a celebration of culture and resilience, but also as a bold call for unity, healing, and global action on reparative justice.
Source: Public Relations Unit -MoTCCA
