Emancipation day celebration promotes unity and reconnects the African diaspora – GTA Deputy Director
GTA Deputy Director says Emancipation Day offers a platform to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their heritage while promoting tourism, cultural identity, and community development.
The Deputy Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) in the Upper East Region, Joseph Azika, says this year’s Emancipation Day celebration is aimed at reconnecting Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral roots while promoting unity, cultural preservation and economic development through tourism.
He said the annual celebration also provides an opportunity to reshape perceptions about the Upper East Region by showcasing its peaceful environment, rich cultural heritage and readiness to welcome visitors from across Ghana and around the world.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Tuesday, July 21, Azika said the 2026 celebration is being observed under the theme, “reconnecting roots, celebrating freedom and experience Ghana.”
“Tourism serves as a catalyst for development,” he stated.
According to him, emancipation symbolises freedom from legal, social, economic and political oppression, making the occasion a fitting time to honour the sacrifices of African ancestors while encouraging people of African descent to reconnect with their heritage.
“We are reconnecting our roots and inviting our brothers and sisters in the diaspora to come back, reconnect with their families and rediscover their heritage,” he said.
Azika noted that Ghana’s tourism and heritage initiatives, from the Joseph project to the year of return, beyond the return and now the black star experience, reflect the country’s commitment to strengthening bonds with the African diaspora and positioning Ghana as the preferred destination for heritage tourism.
He further disclosed that DNA ancestry studies have traced the roots of hundreds of African-American families to communities in the Upper East Region, creating significant opportunities for heritage tourism, cultural exchange and local economic development.
“We have to celebrate our freedom. We have to own our traditions and culture and use them to develop our communities,” he stressed.
Azika encouraged Ghanaians to embrace domestic tourism by exploring the country’s diverse cultural and historical attractions, describing it as an important driver of national development and cultural preservation.
He particularly urged residents of the Upper East Region to visit tourist sites within and beyond the region to appreciate Ghana’s rich cultural diversity.
“People from the Upper East should travel within and outside the region to experience the unique cultural heritage that makes Ghana special,” he appealed.
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