The Paga Youth Movement (PAYOM) has called for the establishment of a modern museum at the Pikworo Slave Camp to preserve the area’s rich historical heritage and strengthen tourism development in the Upper East Region.
The appeal was made during a Family Reunion Durbar organised by PAYOM, the Board and Management of the Pikworo Slave Camp, and the traditional authorities of Paga to welcome Illinois State Representative Carol Ammons, whose DNA ancestry test traced her roots to the Paga community.
Addressing the gathering on July 2 at the Pikworo Slave Camp, PAYOM Chairman Wenawome Duriyem Aborah said the proposed museum would serve as a centre for preserving the history of the transatlantic slave trade and providing visitors with a deeper understanding of the region’s heritage.
According to him, the museum should go beyond displaying artefacts by documenting the entire slave route across northern Ghana, including communities in the Upper East, Upper West, and Savannah regions.
Mr. Aborah said further research was needed to capture oral histories before they disappeared with the older generation.
“There are many untold stories across the region. If we fail to document them now, we risk losing an important part of our history forever,” he said.
He noted that the recent DNA ancestry research, which matched thousands of descendants in the United States with samples collected in Paga, had created a unique opportunity to promote heritage tourism and reconnect members of the African diaspora with their ancestral roots.
Mr. Aborah urged the government, development partners, and cultural institutions to support the construction of the museum, saying it would enhance historical education, attract more tourists, and contribute to local economic development.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Moses Apiah | Bolgatanga
