2025 Panafest and Emancipation kicks off today in Paga
Organised by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) in partnership with the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, the Regional House of Chiefs, and the Paga Youth Movement, the festival is themed, “Let’s Speak of Reparative Justice – Pan-African Artistic Activism.
The 2025 edition of the Panafest and Emancipation, a two-day cultural and historical commemoration aimed at promoting Pan-African unity, artistic expression, and the ongoing global conversation around reparative justice, has commenced today.
Organised by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) in partnership with the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, the Regional House of Chiefs, and the Paga Youth Movement, the festival is themed, “Let’s Speak of Reparative Justice – Pan-African Artistic Activism.
From Friday, July 18 to Saturday, July 19, a lineup of cultural and historical activities will take place across Paga and its surrounding areas,
- Street Float (Friday): The festival opens with a vibrant float procession from Paga to Navrongo, featuring drumming and dancing.
- Candlelight Vigil (Friday Evening): A candlelight vigil will be held at the Pikworo Slave Camp, one of Ghana’s historical slave sites, to honour the memory of those who suffered through slavery and to reflect on the journey toward justice and healing.
- Cultural and Drama Performances (Friday Night): Traditional performances, dramatic reenactments presentations will showcase African resilience, identity, and artistic resistance.
- Grand Durbar (Saturday, July 19): The celebration will culminate in a durbar of chiefs and dignitaries, headlined by the Upper East Regional Minister, Akamugre Donatus Atanga. The durbar will feature cultural displays, speeches from political and traditional leaders, youth advocates, and policymakers.
- After Party on Saturday Night: The festival will be climaxed with an after-party celebration in Paga, with a musical artist lineup to entertain patrons
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Friday July 18, Wenawome Aburah, Chairman of the Paga Youth Movement, emphasised the significance of the festival in fostering both cultural pride and social consciousness.
“This event is very important for the people of Ghana and the people of the Upper East, and I entreat everybody to be at the venue tomorrow to witness the grand durbar. You get to witness culture and heritage.” Abura said.
Desmond Abire, Public Relations Officer of the Paga Youth Movement, highlighted the importance of community involvement, particularly from the Upper East Region.
“This is an opportunity for us to market the region, and we are happy that for the past two, three years the picture has changed, so we are inviting everybody in the Upper East region. This is for us, even though the slave camp was in Paga, it wasn’t only the inhabitants of Paga or the natives of Paga who were captured by the slave traders.” Abire stated.
The festival is expected to draw patrons from within and outside the shores of Ghana.
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