In keeping with the tradition of the Emancipation Day celebrations, the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has held wreath-laying ceremonies to commemorate the 2024 Emancipation Day in Accra.
The wreath-laying event took place on Thursday, 24th July 2024, at the final resting places of W.E.B. Du Bois, George Padmore, and Kwame Nkrumah, three monumental figures in the emancipation struggle and Pan-Africanism.
Emancipation 2024 is celebrated under the theme, “Unity and Resilience: Building Stronger Communities for a Brighter Future,” featuring a myriad of events and activities throughout the week-long celebration. Already, the newly rehabilitated Salaga Slave Market and Wells in the Savannah Region have been commissioned as part of the activities.
In his speech, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Egyapa Mercer, disclosed that Ghana has recently embraced its role as a bridge, reconnecting continents while welcoming the African diaspora.
He further noted that the Year of Return initiative marked a pivotal moment, a homecoming for those seeking to reconnect with their roots.
“We recognise the growing importance of engaging with our global family, fostering cultural exchange, and strengthening bonds that transcend borders,” he stated.
He reiterated that the launch of the Beyond the Return initiative, a ten-year project, aims to consolidate the gains of the Year of Return and foster closer collaboration between the global African family.
The restoration and commissioning of the Salaga Slave Market and Wells, according to him, is a testament to the unwavering dedication of the ministry.
“The hallowed ground once stained by the horrors of slavery has now been rehabilitated by the Ghana Tourism Authority to serve as a place of remembrance—a tribute to the resilience of those who endured unimaginable suffering,” he added.
The Minister mentioned that work is ongoing at the Pikworo Slavery Camp to honour the fortitude of the ancestors while drawing inspiration from their endurance.
He disclosed that this ongoing work is part of the Slave Route Project under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture.
According to him, managing to celebrate Emancipation in Salaga, Pikworo, Accra, Assin Praso, Cape Coast, Elmina, and culminating at Assin Manso is a remarkable achievement.
“Professor Efua Sutherland Addy played a pivotal role in birthing Panafest. As we celebrate her, we celebrate all those who, like her, became torchbearers of celebrating our struggles as a people,” he noted. He concluded with a reaffirmation of the commitment to building a brighter future.
“Unity is our cornerstone, and resilience our compass. Together, we forge stronger communities—ones that thrive on shared purpose, empathy, and collective progress. Our path forward is illustrated by hope, guided by the legacy of those who paved the way,” he stated.
Delivering his keynote address, the Akwamuhene, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III said the the theme for this year’s Emancipation Day celebration serves as a powerful reminder that, despite the shadows of Africa’s past, the resilience of its people has been the most valuable strength in striving to create the global African community all Blacks envision.
“It is a stark reminder that despite the legacies of those dark days, our resilience has proved to be our greatest asset in the journey towards building the global African community we all want to see; an African community that brings together the children of the soil from the Caribbeans, the Americas, Africa and across the world,” the Akwamuhene emphasised.
The wreath-laying ceremonies brought together stakeholders from Ghana’s tourism industry, traditional authorities, students, the African diaspoara and the media.
Other activites and events earmarked for Emancipation 2024 include, durbar of chiefs at Assin Praso, a reverential night featuring a candlelight procession in Cape Coast, echoes of culture in Elmina with an Emancipation Day durbar at Assin Manso climaxing this year’s celebration on August 1.
