𝐀𝐫𝐭, 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲: PANAFEST 2025 Officially Launched, Promises to be Unforgettable

The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie has officially launched the 2025 edition of PANAFEST and Emancipation Day under the theme “Let Us Speak of Reparative Justice: Artistic Activism.”

The event was held at the Tourism Information Centre in Accra on Monday, June 23, 2025.
Delivering her speech at the event, the Minister emphasized cultural healing, youth empowerment, and diaspora unity, unveiling the Black Star Experience to boost heritage tourism and position Ghana as a global cultural hub.

This year’s celebration carries even deeper significance. Against the backdrop of global racial tensions, renewed calls for reparative justice and the growing defamation of African identity, Ghana stands resolute in championing a new African narrative through the Black Star Experience.”

She further underscored the importance of this year’s PANAFEST, stressing the need to reintroduce conversations about heritage in ways that are relevant and accessible.
“PANAFEST is far more than a festival. It is a spiritual, cultural and intellectual movement, a platform that repositions Ghana as a homeland for people of African descent seeking reconnection and a shared sense of purpose and dignity,” the Minister said.

“If our children don’t understand why we are doing this, then nobody will be doing it,” she stated.

The launch brought together cultural leaders, tourism officials, diplomats, and advocates of heritage preservation. Discussions included an overview of the 2025 program, which will run over two weeks.

Activities will span across key historical sites in Tamale, Salaga, Cape Coast, Bono Manso and Assin Manso.

The events will include commemorative ceremonies, heritage site visits, diaspora dialogues, youth and academic discussions, cultural showcases, a Mini-PANAFEST African Market, and a Creative Explosion Concert with more emphasis placed on public education, reparative dialogue, and community participation.

This year’s theme, “Let Us Speak of Reparative Justice – Pan-African Artistic Activism,” is a timely call to action, according to Maame Efua Houadjeto, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority.

“Reparative justice is no longer a matter for debate; it is a matter of necessity, of dignity, and of history demanding redress,” she emphasized.

PANAFEST, which began in 1992, has grown into an internationally recognized platform that brings together Africans and people of African descent to engage in honest conversations, cultural expression, and ancestral reconnection.

The festival is not just another event on Ghana’s tourism calendar; it is a deeply symbolic initiative born out of the need to reflect on the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, honor ancestors, confront the past, and move forward in unity and creativity.

Under this year’s theme, artistic activism will be highlighted as both a form of protest and a path to healing. From spoken word to theatre, dance to visual arts, and digital storytelling, creativity has always been the heartbeat of African survival and resistance.

“The power of the media, particularly at a time like this, cannot be overstated. You are the bridge between this message and the world beyond our borders,” Maame Efua Houadjeto noted.

PANAFEST 2025 will also highlight the role of culture and heritage tourism as catalysts for national transformation, aligning with Ghana’s broader National Reset Agenda.

Key speakers for the event – Prof. Esi Sutherland-Addy and Prof. Kwesi Yankah, called for real reparations and a re-centering of African identity in education and history.