Ghana has once again stood as the ancestral beacon of Pan-African unity and remembrance during the 2025 edition of PANAFEST Emancipation Day and Wreath Laying Ceremony. The poignant pilgrimage through the sacred resting grounds of Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, George Padmore, and Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park echoed with reverence, as leaders, creatives, diaspora delegates and cultural thinkers gathered to pay tribute to the legacy of the Pan-African forebears.
Guided by this year’s resonant theme, “Let Us Speak of Reparative Justice and Pan-African Artistic Activism,” the series of ceremonies served not only as a homage to the past but a determined call to recalibrate the future of the African and diaspora communities through justice, healing, and collaboration.
Led by the Ghana Tourism Authority in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and the Office of Diaspora Affairs, the Emancipation Day commemorations served as a sacred procession connecting the memories of giants whose vision for a free and united Africa continues to inspire generations.
In her opening statement at the wreath-laying, Maame Efua Houadjeto, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, affirmed the timeless relevance of this act: “As we lay wreaths at the feet of giants, we do not merely honor their memory; we affirm our commitment to the ideals they left behind. This moment is not ceremonial alone. It is spiritual, political, cultural, and deeply personal.”
She underscored that remembrance must lead to action, challenging attendees to match reflection with responsibility. “Reparative justice demands more than solidarity. It requires policy, investment, and unity,” she emphasized.
Mr. Kofi Okyere Darko, Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the President, carried forward this charge, reaffirming Ghana’s role as a home for all people of African descent. “Whether you trace your roots to Accra or Alabama, to Kumasi or Kingston, Ghana sees you and Ghana stands with you,” he said. In a compelling address, he framed the gathering not as symbolic, but as strategic: a mandate for the future built on dignity, remembrance and Pan-African purpose.
In an impactful testament to transatlantic unity, H.E. Mariana Gonçalves Madeira, Brazil’s Ambassador to Ghana, highlighted the enduring ties between the two nations, tracing a shared soul born out of pain but transformed into cultural resilience.
“Brazil is home to the largest African descendant population outside the continent. Our music, food, faith and spirit are shaped by this powerful legacy,” she said. Her introduction of Brazil’s Samba Zumbi Collective – a group championing Afro-Brazilian identity and youth empowerment through arts – represented a living bridge across generations and geographies.
In her words, PANAFEST is not only a festival, but “a bridge across the ocean, across histories.”
Adding a deeply personal dimension to the ceremony, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, delivered an impassioned address that resonated with conviction and urgency.
She questioned societal perceptions that devalue African traditions and challenged the audience to examine how colonial mindsets continue to shape attitudes toward spirituality and cultural heritage. In her words:
“Emancipation is not fundamental. Emancipation is lifting… Are our actions really honoring our ancestors? Or disrespecting them? Are they proud of us?”
The Minister affirmed her identity and cultural pride, pledging: “I want to make a pledge to speak up, to stand up, to stand out as an African and defend my African-ness anyway, everywhere, and every day, not some days… I make it fearlessly… I am prepared for the repercussions of my actions.”
Her speech served as both a challenge and a call to action, urging Africans and the diaspora to resist all forms of oppression and to walk boldly in the fullness of their heritage.
The day’s solemn procession was crowned by a deeply reflective tribute from Mr. Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey, Deputy CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority. “We do more than lay wreaths,” he noted. “We lay down a code of conscience, of unity and of action.”
He paid homage to pioneers like Prof. Efua Sutherland, whose vision birthed PANAFEST over three decades ago, and acknowledged leaders and elders who continue to steward the festival’s legacy.
“Let us remember,” he charged, “that reparative justice is not a slogan. It is a commitment to confront uncomfortable truths, to heal generational wounds, and to shape a future guided by equity, memory and hope.”
The 2025 edition of PANAFEST continues to affirm Ghana’s commitment to honoring the past while shaping a future anchored in dignity, identity, and resilience.
The wreath-laying ceremonies are part of commemorative events for this year’s PANAFEST and Emancipation Day which commenced last week from northern Ghana. Many more activities are planned throughout this week and next across several locations in the Greater Accra and Central regions.
