Tributes mark Emancipation Day
A drizzle of rain added more chills to the solemn Reverential Night ceremony held at Cape Coast Castle last Thursday as part of activities marking Emancipation Day celebrations this year.
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Many participants including Africans in the diaspora many of whom wore solemn faces and some chiefs from the Central and Western regions joined hands to pay tribute in the Castle dungeons to great ancestors who were shipped as captives to work on plantations in the Americas. To their memory, wreaths were laid and candles were lit.
The Paramount Chief of Cape Coast, Osabarima Kwesi Atta had earlier in a symbolic ceremony welcomed a candle lit procession of people led by Rabbi Kohain to the Castle.
This year’s Emancipation Day was celebrated with the theme “Our Heritage, Our Strength, Reuniting the African Family for Development.
The Central Regional Minister, Mr Aquainas Tawiah Quansah in an address said the slave trade was dehumanizing enough but should not be an excuse for under development.
Rather, he said Emancipation Day celebrations should serve as a platform for all of African descent to re-strategize the emergence of the new African.
He said the celebration must be seen as a call to all of African descent to work hard to elevate the continent and its people from poverty.
Dr Umar Johnson, who spoke on behalf of people from the diaspora stated that people of African descent must not allow themselves to be divided by superficial differences and join hands to build a better Africa.
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There were performances from the University of Cape Coast, Young Gifted Black from the United States of America, Oiada Musical Group and the Pan African Youth Club.
On Friday, a colourful durbar was held at Assin Manso to climax the Emancipation Day activities. It brought together chiefs in colourful regalia, Africans in the diaspora, local and foreign tourists and school children. Also present was the President of the Central House of Chiefs, Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi. Many traditional dance ensemble also spiced the occasion with perfomances.
The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare said though the African continent suffered greatly from the Slave Trade it was necessary that the continent and its people use the memories to create useful lessons that will help accelerate the development of Africa.
She noted that the constant inter-tribal wars that created fertile grounds for the slave trade to flourish must help African and all of African descent to resolve to live in unity irrespective of our religious and political differences.
Mrs Ofosu-Adjare said the ministry would stimulate the necessary investment in community tourism projects such as the Assin Manso Nnoko Nsou (Slave River)and also use the Explore Ghana project launched to increase patronage of these sites.
Professor James Small who spoke on behalf of Africans in the diaspora noted that Africa is the world’s wealthiest piece of real estate and it must not allow itself to be dictated to by the rest of the world.
He said Emancipation Day must not just be an emotional ceremony but one that would build boldness in all African leaders to take advantage of world trade and politics to change the course of Africa’s future for the better.
The President of the Assin Apimanim Traditional Area, Barima Kwame Nkyi X called for efforts to sustain interest in the celebration while working to build a united African family.
Wreaths were later laid in a solemn ceremony at the graves of two former slaves at Assin Manso Reverential Gardens and a visit to the Slave River.