Tourism Minister urges cultural reawakening at PANAFEST wreath-laying ceremony
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, is urging Ghanaians to reclaim their African identity and cultural heritage.
Speaking at the 2025 PANAFEST and Emancipation wreath-laying ceremony held at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park on Wednesday, July 23, she emphasized the importance of unity, cultural pride, and collective healing.
The minister believes that embracing African identity is crucial for national growth and development, especially in the face of globalization and modernization that often threaten local traditions.
“We don’t celebrate emancipation because it’s a ritual,” she declared. “We do so to feel the pain of separation; and to fight for what is ours.”
Referencing Pan-African icons such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, she challenged attendees to assess whether today’s Africans are truly living out the ideals of these forebears. She criticized the lingering impact of colonialism and internalized cultural shame, stating, “When you look down on your culture, your food, your religion, you have chosen the other over yourself.”
She also announced the launch of the AfroGhastro Culinary Festival, scheduled for September 15, under the Black Star Experience initiative. The festival will spotlight African cuisine as a tool for cultural diplomacy. “Food is a bridge. When it tastes right, love flows naturally,” she said.
The Minister ended with a stirring personal commitment to champion the cause of African identity, reaffirming her dedication to promoting and preserving the rich cultural heritage of Africa.
“I pledge to speak up, to stand out, and to defend my Africanness, anywhere, everywhere, and every day.”
The ceremony featured additional calls to action. Dr. Collins Rawlings Nunyonameh, Executive Director of the Kwa
me Nkrumah Memorial Park, warned that Africa’s flame of liberation must not be allowed to dim. “We must not rest until Africa is completely free,” he asserted.
Maame Efua Houadjeto, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, reinforced PANAFEST’s deeper mission beyond symbolism. “This is a summons to reconnect with our roots and reaffirm our responsibility to Africa’s past and future,” she said.
Highlighting global cultural ties, Brazil’s Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Mariana Goncalves Madeira, applauded the activism of Afro-Brazilians and stressed the value of cross-cultural collaboration in heritage protection.
The event was rounded out by performances from traditional Ghanaian artist from the National Theatre, the Ghana Dance Ensemble and others, including a moving piece by Barbados’ Poet Laureate, Esther Phillips, enriching the ceremony’s atmosphere with Culture, arts and reflections.
Source: Public Relations Unit -MoTCCA
