Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has formally launched the seventeenth version of the Pan-African Historic Theatre Pageant (PANAFEST) and Emancipation Day 2025 in a grand ceremony held within the Central Area on Saturday, July 27.
The kickoff units the tone for a competition that not solely commemorates the enduring struggles of the Transatlantic Slave Commerce but additionally celebrates Ghana’s vibrant cultural heritage and goals to strengthen ties with the worldwide African diaspora.
Addressing a durbar attended by conventional leaders, authorities officers, members of the diaspora, and the general public, Vice President Opoku-Agyemang delivered a poignant message.
She known as upon each Ghanaians and the worldwide African diaspora to always remember the painful historical past of enslavement, urging them to “bear in mind the painful historical past of enslavement and to take possession of their narrative as a information towards progress and unity.”
This emphasis on narrative management highlights the significance of Africans telling their very own tales, countering historic misrepresentations, and fostering a shared identification rooted in resilience and aspiration.
The Vice President additional underscored the crucial of freedom, stating, “She emphasised the significance of resisting all types of oppression, reaffirming Ghana’s dedication to freedom.”
This resonates deeply with Ghana’s historic function as a beacon of independence in Africa and its ongoing efforts to champion human rights and self-determination on the continent.
A good portion of Professor Opoku-Agyemang’s tackle was devoted to the essential function of younger individuals in shaping Ghana’s future and, by extension, Africa’s future.
She issued a robust name for youth-centred insurance policies and sturdy investments of their empowerment, training, and holistic growth.
This give attention to youth is especially pertinent in Ghana, the place over 57% of the inhabitants is below the age of 25.
Whereas this demographic dividend presents immense potential for financial progress and innovation, it additionally poses challenges associated to unemployment, entry to high quality training, and ample alternatives for abilities growth.
In accordance with the Ghana Statistical Service, youth unemployment, notably amongst these with tertiary training, stays a big concern, hovering round 19.1% in 2023.
PANAFEST, first held in 1992, is a biennial cultural occasion designed to advertise and improve the beliefs of Pan-Africanism and African growth.
It usually contains a wealthy tapestry of theatre, drama, music, dance, poetry, and conventional rites, drawing contributors from throughout Africa and the diaspora.
Emancipation Day, noticed on August 1st, commemorates the abolition of slavery and serves as a big second for reflection on the legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Commerce and the resilience of African individuals.
Ghana, by occasions like PANAFEST, has positioned itself as a religious house for the diaspora, notably by initiatives just like the “12 months of Return” (2019) and “Past the Return” (ongoing), which encourage individuals of African descent to go to, make investments, and reconnect with their ancestral roots.
The launch of PANAFEST 2025 units the stage for a interval of profound cultural immersion, historic remembrance, and strategic dialogue.
Because the competition unfolds, it’s anticipated to foster deeper connections between Africans on the continent and people within the diaspora, reinforcing a shared heritage and galvanizing collective motion in direction of a affluent and unified future, pushed by an empowered and acutely aware youth.
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Feedback, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform don’t essentially characterize the views or coverage of Multimedia Group Restricted.
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