The 2025 PANAFEST and Emancipation Day celebration took place from July 18 to 19 at the historic Pikworo Slave Camp in Paga, located in Ghana’s Upper East Region. Held under the theme “Let Us Speak of Reparative Justice – Pan-African Artistic Activism,” the two-day event paid tribute to Africa’s enduring history and the call for justice and healing.
Highlights of the commemoration included a symbolic walk from Navrongo to Paga, cultural performances, exhibitions, and a night vigil in honor of the enslaved ancestors who suffered at the hands of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. A grand durbar brought together traditional leaders, diaspora communities, students, and government officials to reflect on the continent’s painful past and renew the global conversation on reparative justice in Africa.
Wisdom Korbla Ahadzi, Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority, underscored the urgent need to preserve and develop the Pikworo heritage site.
“We need urgent government support to protect this heritage site. A fence wall and improved infrastructure will go a long way to enhance heritage tourism and education,” he stated.
Upper East Regional Minister Donatus Akamugri Atanga called on stakeholders to deepen partnerships in cultural education, support the creative arts sector, and strengthen bonds with the African diaspora.
“Let us use this moment to support creative industries, engage the youth, and build stronger ties with the African diaspora,” he urged.
The festival drew a vibrant mix of attendees, including political figures, educators, clergy, students, and the general public. The celebration grounds came alive with traditional food vendors, art exhibitions, and cultural performances by local schoolchildren.
The event concluded with a solemn procession to the burial site of enslaved persons, where wreath-laying ceremonies and traditional rites were held—a symbolic act of remembrance, unity, and hope for generations to come.
Source: A1radioonline | 101.1 MHz | Joseph Napoleon Anaaya | Bolgatanga
