Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, delivered a powerful address at the 2025 PANAFEST and Emancipation Day celebrations in Cape Coast, issuing a fervent plea for Africans to dismantle deeply entrenched “racial inferiority complexes and economic systems rooted in colonial exploitation”.
She unequivocally described these as enduring and detrimental legacies of the Transatlantic Slave Trade in her speech on Saturday, July 27.
Speaking to a captivated audience that included traditional leaders, members of the African diaspora, and local dignitaries, Ms Gomashie asserted that the transatlantic slave trade engineered “structures of exploitation that continue to distort Africa’s development and self-image.”
Her remarks underscored the festival’s dual purpose: commemorating a painful past while actively shaping a liberated future.
“This is not just a celebration; it is a call for reparative justice and a reawakening of African consciousness,” she declared, linking the historical commemoration to contemporary demands for equity and self-determination.
Ms Gomashie stressed the paramount importance of embracing Ghana’s rich cultural identity as a bedrock for reclaiming African dignity and achieving genuine economic independence.
She passionately urged both Ghanaians and the global African diaspora to actively reject systems of psychological and economic dependence that were imposed through colonial history.
This call aligns with broader Pan-Africanist movements advocating for economic liberation and self-reliance, recognising that political independence often did not translate into true economic sovereignty.
For instance, many African nations still grapple with unequal trade agreements, reliance on raw material exports, and external debt burdens that limit their developmental autonomy.
Underscoring the government’s steadfast commitment to elevating Ghana’s global cultural relevance, Minister Gomashie reaffirmed her Ministry’s dedication to The Black Star Experience.
She described this signature initiative as central to the national tourism and cultural agenda, positioning it as a cornerstone of Ghana’s engagement with the diaspora.
“The Ministry of Art and Tourism is proud to champion the Black Star Experience, an initiative that was launched by President John Dramani Mahama himself. We envision Ghana not only as the gateway to the continent but also as the spiritual homeland of all people of African descent,” she stated.
The Black Star Experience builds upon the success of initiatives like the “Year of Return” (2019), which saw over 1.1 million visitors to Ghana, injecting an estimated $1.9 billion into the economy, and the subsequent “Beyond the Return” campaign.
These programmes actively encourage the African diaspora to visit, invest, and reconnect with their ancestral homeland, fostering a sense of belonging and promoting economic ties.
Such initiatives are crucial not only for tourism revenue but also for leveraging the intellectual and financial capital of the diaspora for Ghana’s development.
This year’s PANAFEST and Emancipation events served as a powerful convergence, bringing together the Oguaa Traditional Council, the Central Regional House of Chiefs, and a diverse representation of the African diaspora.
The collective gathering symbolised a united front to honour ancestral resilience, reflect on historical injustices, and collaboratively forge a robust, united vision for Africa’s future.
The cultural festivities, intellectual discussions, and spiritual ceremonies held during PANAFEST are designed to reinforce a shared identity and inspire collective action towards overcoming contemporary challenges and building a prosperous continent.
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