2023 PANAFEST AND EMANCIPATION DAY COMMEMORATED AT BONO MANSO.

This year's edition of the Pan - African Historical Festival (PANAFEST) and Emancipation Day has been commemorated at Bono Manso in the Bono East region.

PANAFEST is a cultural event in Ghana which is celebrated every two years, to promote and enhance unity, Pan - Africanism and the development of the African continent. 

The festival was held on the theme “Reclaiming the African family, confronting the past to face the challenges of the 21st century”. 

Emancipation Day is also celebrated every year in Ghana since 1998 to mark the abolition of slavery in the British colonies in 1834. 

It was marked on the theme “Emancipation; empowering the African family to confront challenges of the 21st century”.

The Executive Director of (PANAFEST), Mr. Rabbi Kohain Nathanyah Halevi, in his remarks said the experience of the Trans - Atlantic Slave Trade should constantly remind Ghanaians to fight against all forms of slavery and inhuman treatment.

He believes Ghanaians both local and in the Diaspora must appreciate freedom from all forms of oppression and discrimination including mental slavery. 

Mr Nathanyah Halevi stated that the celebration serves as a reminder to Ghanaians to be committed to the future growth of the continent, and that it would require great ideas from everyone.

About 400 years ago, slaves captured in the northern parts of the country were transported to Bono Manso, where the strong ones were selected and transported to Cape Coast and later to Europe, and the weak ones were left behind. 

At the short ceremony to mark PANAFEST and Emancipation Day, a performance by the cultural troop of the Bono East Regional Center for National Culture (CNC), depicted the struggles and inhuman treatment our forefathers were subjected to.

Mr Peter Osei - Fosu, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Nkoranza North, said Emancipation Day and PANAFEST was celebrated to remember the Trans - African Trade, and offered Ghanaians the opportunity to re - assess the roles of their ancestors in ensuring Africa’s liberation. 

The Bono East Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr Joseph Appiagyei, noted that tourist attractions, beautiful scenes, rich culture and artefacts, abound in the Bono East region, and encouraged revelers in the country and abroad to visit the area.

He implored the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and other stakeholder institutions to invest in domestic tourism, especially in the region to promote sustainable development for job creation and poverty reduction. 

Mr Appiagyei re - emphasised the commitment of the GTA to promote, manage and preserve all tourist attraction sites and scenes in the country adding that "individuals and institutions are welcomed onboard to partner us".

The Chief of Bono Manso, Nana Minka Ameyaw II, indicated that the leadership of the community was committed to turning the town’s misfortune of being a slave market center to a well developed place to attract to

urists and holiday - makers.