VEEP Launches PANAFEST 2025 With Call For Deeper Reflection

Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called for deeper reflection and an opportunity to change the narrative of struggles during the Transatlantic Slave Trade as well as honour the countless acts of resistance that defined the Ghanaian people and the global African diaspora in general.

She made this important call during the launch of the 17th edition of the Pan-African Historical Theatre Festival (PANAFEST) and Emancipation Day 2025 of the historically and culturally significant festival in Cape Coast.

“This is a time for reflection and an opportunity to reclaim our narrative and to honour the countless acts of resistance that defined our people during the horrors of slavery” she indicated.

She emphasized the wisdom of elders in society, explaining that, they hold vital stories, and urged the citizens to approach them with humility to preserve and learn from the past.

Adding further, she declared that, no African, regardless of location, should live on the razor’s edge of life adding that, government is committed to crafting policies that uplift the ordinary Ghanaian and build a dignified future for all.

She issued a powerful call for youth-centred policies and robust investments in their empowerment, education, and holistic development.

The launch sets the tone for a festival that not only commemorates the enduring struggles of the Transatlantic Slave Trade but also celebrates Ghana’s vibrant cultural heritage and aims to strengthen ties with the global African diaspora.

PANAFEST, first held in 1992, is a biennial cultural event designed to promote and enhance the ideals of Pan-Africanism and African development.

It typically features a rich tapestry of theatre, drama, music, dance, poetry, and traditional rites, drawing participants from across Africa and the diaspora.

Emancipation Day, observed on August 1st, commemorates the abolition of slavery and serves as a significant moment for reflection on the legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and the resilience of African people.

Ghana, through events like PANAFEST, has positioned itself as a spiritual home for the diaspora, particularly through initiatives like the “Year of Return” (2019) and “Beyond the Return” (ongoing), which encourage people of African descent to visit, invest, and reconnect with their ancestral roots.

The PANAFEST 2025 sets the stage for a period of profound cultural immersion, historical remembrance, and strategic dialogue.

As the festival unfolds, it is expected to foster deeper connections between Africans on the continent and those in the diaspora, reinforcing a shared heritage and inspiring collective action towards a prosperous and unified future, driven by an empowered and conscious youth.