A DNA ancestry research project conducted at the historic Pikworo Slave Camp in Nania-Paga and surrounding communities in the Kassena-Nankana West District has identified about 6,000 people of African descent whose ancestral roots trace back to Paga in the Upper East Region.
The Chairman of the Paga Youth Movement (PAYOM), Wenawome Duriyem Aborah, disclosed this during the 2026 Emancipation Day Celebration held at the Pikworo Slave Camp. The 2026 Emancipation Day celebration, held under the theme “Reconnecting Roots, Celebrating Freedom, Experience Ghana,” brought together government officials, traditional leaders, members of the African diaspora, and tourism stakeholders to commemorate the resilience of Africans and strengthen cultural and historical connections across the continent and the diaspora.
According to Mr. Aborah, the research was carried out by Dr. Lukisha David, a genealogist with the Department of Anthropology at Illinois State University in the United States, who collected about 96 DNA samples from residents in Pikworo Slave Camp, Nania, and other communities in Paga to help Africans in the diaspora reconnect with their ancestral origins.
“We want to use this occasion to thank Dr. Lukisha David… who carried out research by taking about 96 DNA samples in this Pikworo Slave Camp, Nania, and other communities in Paga to match Africans who wish to know their roots,” he said.
Mr. Aborah said the findings revealed that about 6,000 people of African descent were traced to Paga alone, with many others linked to communities in Navrongo, Sandema, Bolgatanga and parts of the Northern, Upper West and Savannah regions.
He described the research as a significant milestone in reconnecting members of the African diaspora with their ancestral heritage and strengthening historical ties between Ghana and descendants of enslaved Africans.
The PAYOM Chairman highlighted the case of Madam Carol Ammons, the 103rd State Representative of Illinois in the United States, whose ancestry was linked to Paga through the DNA research.
According to him, Madam Ammons recently visited Nania to reunite with her family and was ceremonially welcomed by the Paga Pio, who bestowed on her the traditional name “Alorisongo,” meaning “I have traced my roots home.”
Mr. Aborah said the discovery demonstrates the importance of preserving historical sites such as the Pikworo Slave Camp and promoting genealogical research as part of efforts to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their heritage.
He called for greater investment in the Pikworo Slave Camp and other heritage sites in northern Ghana, describing them as important cultural and tourism assets capable of attracting visitors from across the world while promoting historical education and economic development.
