The historic town of Paga is set to welcome families, traditional leaders, dignitaries and visitors from across Ghana and the diaspora for the Family Reunion Durbar 2026, a two-day cultural and heritage event aimed at reconnecting descendants of enslaved Africans with their ancestral roots.
Scheduled for July 1-2, 2026, at the historic Pikworo Slave Camp under the theme “Claiming Our Roots, Restoring Our Bonds,” the event will feature heritage tours, ancestry research sessions, cultural exchanges and a grand durbar celebrating family, culture and history.
The highlight of this year’s reunion is the visit of Carol Ammons, a State Representative from Illinois in the United States, who is believed to have traced her ancestral lineage to the region through a DNA research project conducted around slave camp communities in northern Ghana.
Speaking ahead of the event, President of the Paga Youth Movement and Board Member of the Pikworo Slave Camp, Wenawomeh Aborah, said the reunion stems from groundbreaking DNA research that connected descendants in the United States to communities in Ghana’s Upper East Region.
“A research team conducted DNA tests around the slave camp communities and discovered descendants in the United States. One of them happens to be a State Representative from Illinois. She now wants to visit her family and reconnect with the people and culture of her ancestors.”
According to Mr. Aborah, the Family Reunion Durbar is one of two major heritage events scheduled for Paga this year, alongside the annual Panafest and Emancipation celebrations, which have become a significant feature on Ghana’s cultural calendar.
He noted that the Panafest and Emancipation celebrations in Paga have grown steadily over the years, driven largely by community support and volunteer contributions.
“The first celebration was organized by the community, and later it was recognised nationally and added to the national calendar. Last year’s event was remarkable despite limited resources, and this year we are expecting an even bigger celebration,” he said.
Activities on the first day of the Family Reunion Durbar will include guided tours of the Picoro Slave Camp, family history and ancestry research sessions, traditional food preparation demonstrations and cultural exchanges designed to educate participants about the history and traditions of the area.
The second day will feature a grand durbar of chiefs and people of the Paga Traditional Area, showcasing traditional music, dance, culture and unity. Special Guest of Honour will be President John Dramani Mahama.
Other dignitaries expected to attend include Pe Charles Awiah Awampaga II, Paramount Chief of the Paga Traditional Area; Pe Dennis Aneakwoa Balinia Adda Asagpaare II, Paramount Chief of Navrongo, Pe Oscar Batabi Tiyamu II, the Paga Pio; Professor Likisha David, Head of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Upper East Regional Minister Donatus Akamugri Atanga, Rev. Prof. B.A. Lotra, Vice-Chancellor of C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, and Stephen Akurugu A-eke, District Chief Executive for Kassena-Nankana West.
Mr. Aborah said this year’s activities will extend beyond Paga and seek to engage people from across northern Ghana and neighboring Burkina Faso.
He explained that the DNA research initiative initially involved about 300 participants and was designed to establish ancestral links between people in the diaspora and communities across the Upper East Region.
As part of the celebration, a food bazaar will showcase traditional cuisines and the processes involved in preparing indigenous meals, while chiefs and cultural leaders from various communities are expected to participate.
For the Panafest and Emancipation celebrations, organizers are focusing on commemorating the transatlantic slave trade and promoting broader regional participation.
“When we talk about slavery, it did not happen only in Paga or the Upper East Region. It affected many communities. That is why we are inviting chiefs from Burkina Faso, as well as people from the Northern and Upper West regions, to join us in this year’s celebration,” he said.
Mr. Aborah encouraged Ghanaians and members of the African diaspora to visit the Pikworo Slave Camp and participate in the activities.
“We would like to urge all Ghanaians to come to the Paga Slave Camp this year. There is a whole lot planned for this anniversary and many exciting activities that will take place,” he added.
The Family Reunion Durbar 2026 is expected to serve as a powerful platform for remembrance, reconciliation and reconnection, bringing together descendants of enslaved Africans and their ancestral communities while celebrating the rich cultural heritage of northern Ghana.
