Some parts of Accra’s principal streets came alive as the African American Association of Ghana (AAAG), in partnership with the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Office of Diaspora Affairs, hosted a vibrant float to mark the 2025 Juneteenth Festival.
The event formed part of a broader effort to commemorate the abolition of slavery in the United States, while fostering deeper cultural connections between Africans and the African diaspora.
Juneteenth, observed every year on June 19, traces its origin to 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the freedom of enslaved African Americans over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed.
Speaking to the media after the float, the Vice President of the African American Association of Ghana, Maurice Nii Aryetey Cheetham, emphasised the urgency of preserving this significant history.
“We have to understand right now that in America, our history is being erased. Slavery is being erased. It is literally being taken out of the books. Our history is your history. It is not just about African Americans,” he said.
He stressed the need for awareness and education around Juneteenth among Ghanaians.
“Many Ghanaians don’t know what Juneteenth is and have never heard of it. So we want to share part of our history and make it an annual celebration.”
Adding his voice, Kofi Attah Kakra Kusi, Deputy Director in Charge of Communications at the Ghana Tourism Authority, reiterated the GTA’s commitment to supporting events that promote Ghana as a cultural and historical hub.
“The African Americans are also a very important part of our promotion and our marketing. They do a lot of projects and activities supporting the tourism industry. So it is time for us to support and also push this agenda so that we will have a lot of African Americans connecting with their roots.”
Now recognized as a federal holiday in the U.S., the day has grown into a powerful symbol of liberation and reflection.
As rhythmic drumming, dancing, and spirited chants echoed through the streets of Accra, passersby joined the procession, turning the float into a cultural spectacle.
It ended at the Ghana Tourism Information Centre forecourt, where a lineup of activities, including live performances, storytelling, and exhibitions, captured the historical essence of the occasion.
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