Cape Coast, Ghana – July 31, 2025 — “Cape Coast Castle is not just a place of remembrance—it is a site of deep reflection, of honor, and of reconnection with the strong spirit of our ancestors,” declared Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, in a statement delivered on her behalf by Mr. Joseph Kwasi Amoah, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and creative arts a moving vigil held last night at the historic Cape Coast Castle. “Their cries still echo in the stone. Their resilience demands our action.” Her statement said.
The vigil formed part of Ghana’s Emancipation Day commemorations, offering a solemn moment to honor the memory of African ancestors whose lives were violently disrupted by the transatlantic slave trade. As night fell, the castle’s haunting corridors transformed into sacred ground for reflection, remembrance, and renewed purpose.
This year’s Emancipation Night, themed “Let Us Speak of Reparatory Justice: Pan-African Artistic Activism,” featured a powerful three-part program that began with the Gathering and Redemption March. Participants—comprising locals and members of the African diaspora—walked from Mfantsipim Junction to the castle gates, retracing in reverse the path many enslaved Africans were once forced to take.
A wreath-laying ceremony at the castle gates paid tribute to the millions who died or suffered during centuries of enslavement. In a moment of poignant silence, flowers were placed in memory of lives lost and legacies stolen.
Prof. Esi Sutherland- Addy, delivering remarks during the vigil, thanked the diasporan community for their continued connection and solidarity. “We are deeply moved by the turnout of our brothers and sisters from the diaspora,” she said. “Your presence reminds us that though we were scattered, we remain connected in spirit, in purpose, and in memory.”
She also called for increased investment—both local and international—in the PANAFEST Emancipation Programe, urging stakeholders to support ongoing efforts to uplift African heritage, unity, and healing through such cultural commemoration.
The ceremony concluded with affirmations of commitment to keeping the African story alive. The vigil program e was attended by management and staff of the Ministry and the Ghana Tourism Authority.
Emancipation Day celebrations continue today in Assin Manso, the historic site where enslaved Africans took their final bath before being confined to coastal dungeons—a further step in the national journey of remembrance and reconnection.
Source: Delassie Mabel Awuku- Public Relations unit-MoTCCA
