The Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Ablah Dzifa Gomashie, has officially launched the 17th edition of Panafest and Emancipation Day celebrations in Accra under the theme: “Let Us Speak of Reparative Justice – Pan-African Artistic Activism.”

Describing the event as a “reawakening of a global cultural mission,” the Minister emphasized its power to foster unity, cultural pride, and socio-economic transformation through the arts.

Since its inception in 1992, Panafest has served as a platform for artistic expression, historical reflection, and the reconnection of Africans on the continent with those in the diaspora.

“Activism can be done on different levels, with different people, at different times. It must just be continuous,” Gomashie stated, calling for sustained cultural engagement.

The 2025 edition, which runs from July 18 to August 1, will take place across key heritage sites including Cape Coast, Elmina, Assin Manso, Ada, Keta, and parts of northern Ghana. Activities will include dramatic reenactments, academic symposia, youth-led conversations, exhibitions, and healing rituals — all aimed at confronting historical injustices and reshaping African identity.

Panafest and Emancipation Day celebrations also form part of the Black Star Experience — a flagship government initiative under President John Dramani Mahama aimed at establishing Ghana as a global hub for heritage tourism and diaspora investment.

Calling it “an immersive journey that binds Ghana’s rich past to a bold and prosperous future,” the Minister highlighted the sector’s growing economic impact. In 2023, Ghana projected $3.8 billion in tourism revenue, with the average tourist spending over $3,700. The industry has also driven job creation in areas such as event planning, costume design, heritage site management, and local crafts.

Gomashie stressed the urgency of collective healing, pointing to the lingering trauma of slavery, colonization, and displacement experienced by both Africans and the diaspora.

“Until we recognise that something deep has happened to us, that healing will not occur,” she said, urging deeper engagement with African culture and identity.

She ended with a resounding call for unity: “We face neither east nor west. We face forward.”

Finally, the Minister urged the media, artists, scholars, youth, and the diaspora to help amplify Ghana’s cultural message, describing the festival as a “recall of all African children” and a vital tool for cultural diplomacy and continental renewal.