Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Maame Efua Houadjeto, has described Panafest 2025 as a “sacred ground” for healing collective trauma through artistic activism, reaffirming Ghana’s position as Africa’s cultural gateway.
Speaking at the official launch of Panafest and Emancipation Day 2025 on June 23 at the Accra Tourism Information Centre, Mrs. Houadjeto spotlighted this year’s theme: “Let Us Speak of Reparative Justice – Pan-African Artistic Activism.”
“Reparative justice is not a debate; it is a necessity, a matter of dignity, and a demand for historical redress,” she declared.
Since its inception in 1992, Panafest has served as a platform to reflect on the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade, honour the memory of ancestors, and connect Africans on the continent with those in the diaspora through rich cultural expression. The 2025 edition, scheduled from July 18 to August 1, will feature spoken word, theatre, dance, visual arts, and digital storytelling across Ghana’s historic heritage sites — all designed to inspire resilience and resistance.
In collaboration with the Panafest Foundation, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and international partners, the GTA will roll out a diverse programme, including dramatic reenactments, academic symposia, youth-led conversations, exhibitions, and diaspora dialogues — all aimed at bringing the call for reparative justice to life.
Mrs. Houadjeto also emphasized Ghana’s leading role in advocating for cultural restitution, identity reclamation, and historical truth in response to the lingering impacts of slavery, colonization, and global inequality.
Calling on global media, artists, scholars, youth, and the diaspora to take part in this year’s festival, she emphasized,
“The media’s power is undeniable — you are the bridge to the world.”
She described Panafest 2025 not only as a celebration of African heritage but as a catalyst for national transformation, reinforcing Ghana’s status as a cultural and intellectual hub — where the past is honoured and the future is shaped with purpose.
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