Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has delivered a passionate call for Africans to break free from racial inferiority complexes and economic systems rooted in colonial exploitation, describing them as lingering legacies of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Speaking at the 2025 PANAFEST and Emancipation Day celebrations in Cape Coast on Saturday, July 26, the Minister said the transatlantic slave trade created structures of exploitation that continue to distort Africa’s development and self-image.
“This is not just a celebration; it is a call for reparative justice and a reawakening of African consciousness,” she declared.
Gomashie stressed the importance of embracing Ghana’s rich cultural identity as a foundation for reclaiming African dignity and economic independence. She urged both Ghanaians and the global African diaspora to reject systems of psychological and economic dependence imposed through colonial history.
Underscoring government efforts to elevate Ghana’s cultural relevance, she reaffirmed her Ministry’s commitment to the Black Star Experience—a signature initiative she described as central to the national tourism and cultural agenda.
“The Ministry of Art and Tourism is proud to champion the Black Star Experience, an initiative that was launched by President John Dramani Mahama himself. We envision Ghana not only as the gateway to the continent but also as the spiritual homeland of all people of African descent,” she stated.
This year’s PANAFEST and Emancipation events brought together the Oguaa Traditional Council, the Central Regional House of Chiefs, and members of the African diaspora in a powerful convergence to honour ancestral resilience, reflect on historical injustices, and forge a united vision for Africa’s future.
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