12th PANAFEST devoid of splendor

The 12th edition of the Pan-African Historical Theatre Festival (PANAFEST) opened in Cape Coast on Saturday with little euphoria unlike the past events.

The usually well-patronised and colourful durbar that marks the opening of the festival was this time lacking.

Officials expressed disappointment at the low patronage and called on stakeholder institutions and corporate Ghana to support efforts at rebranding and sustaining the festival.  

A Minister of State at the office of the President, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, who was the guest of honour at the opening ceremony, said it was time for stakeholders and corporate Ghana to work harder to revamp the festival.       

He noted that the PANAFEST, which was celebrated with great pomp and attracted huge numbers of people from around the globe, was gradually losing its shine, stressing that corporate Ghana must support the tourism, art and cultural sector to promote tourism to the outside world.

Date change

This year’s festival suffered a hitch when it was postponed from the usual July-August to December because of bad publicity that Africa had been hit by Ebola.

It is being celebrated on the theme, “PANAFEST at the threshold of the decade of the people of African descent.”

The opening ceremony was attended by chiefs from the Western, Greater Accra, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions, who showcased Ghanaian royalty at the durbar.

Dance groups from Cape Coast, including the CNC folkloric group, the Tweraimpong Group and the Oiada Musical Group added some glitz to the opening ceremony.

The “Mother’s welcome rites” which symbolically welcome Africans from the diaspora to the motherland, were also performed as part of the opening.

Poor turnout

Mr Afriyie Ankrah said it was unfortunate that many residents of Cape Coast failed to turn up at the festival and called on them to work and own, as well as sustain the festival to optimise the benefits for development.

He described the apathy towards the celebration of PANAFEST as mind boggling and charged the residents of Cape Coast and Elmina to ensure a more vibrant celebration in 2017.

He said the United Nations (UN) had declared 2015-2025 as the international decade of people of African descent, adding that the festival must be used as a tool to achieve tangible development for the African continent.

The Central Regional Minister, Mr Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, earlier in an address, also conceded that the festival had lost its vibe. He was, however, hopeful that it would bounce back to life.

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu Agyare, expressed optimism about the enormous economic and social potential associated with   the celebration of PANAFEST and called for support for the festival.