The Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has called on Africans and the diaspora to embrace their heritage and turn remembrance into collective action.

She said this during the 2025 PANAFEST and Emancipation wreath-laying ceremony on Tuesday at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.

She reflected on the legacies of Pan-African leaders like W.E.B. Du Bois and Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, questioning whether current generations uphold their vision.

She addressed the lasting effects of colonialism and the rejection of African traditions, stating, “When you dismiss your culture, your food, or your faith, you choose others over yourself.”

The minister announced the AfroGhastro Culinary Festival, scheduled for September 15 under the Black Star Experience initiative, to promote African cuisine as a way of fostering cultural connection.

“Food brings people together. When it tastes good, love follows,” she said.

Madam Gomashie made a personal commitment to champion African identity.

“I will speak up, stand out, and defend my Africanness anywhere, everywhere, every day,” she affirmed.

On her part, Maame Efua Houadjeto, the CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, emphasised PANAFEST’s deeper purpose.

“This is a call to reconnect with our roots and honor our duty to Africa’s history and future,” she stated.

Brazil’s Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Mariana Goncalves Madeira, lauded Afro-Brazilian activism and highlighted the importance of global cooperation in preserving heritage.

The ceremony featured performances by the National Theatre’s Ghana Dance Ensemble and other artists, including a poignant recital by Barbados’ Poet Laureate, Esther Phillips, blending culture, art, and reflection.

Irene Wirekoaa Osei, ISD