Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, on Monday performed a joint launched of the 2015 Pan African Festival (PANAFEST) and the second edition of the Ghana Carnival in Accra.
The 15th Edition of PANAFEST takes on board the United Nations declaration of the International Decade for People of African Descent would be held from December 5- December 9, whereas the Ghana Carnival takes place from December 10 – December 12.
“Our goal is for Africans living on the continent to take ownership of this declaration if it is to have any real effect on the lives of African descended people,” Mrs Ofosu-Adjare stated in her address at the launch.
She said the event offers the right platform because it was established to take on precisely the task of raising and debating critical matters affecting the past, present and future of people of African descent.
PANAFEST is a landmark biennial festival, which is celebrated in the spirit of “Re-Uniting the African Family: Pan Africanism and the African Renaissance”.
Celebrated since 1992, the festival addresses the most traumatic interruption that ever occurred in the natural evolution of African societies.
“My ministry is very much aware of the fact that Ghana receives attention for the blend of its rich indigenous culture, the evidence of the historic role it played in the turbulent relationship between Africa and Europe and its leadership role in post-colonial Africa.
“Ghana’s high regard among many African peoples as a result of its leadership role in establishing an African identity is of itself an attraction to a huge segment of visitation to Ghana,” she said.
“It is to this end that we have been developing platforms such as PANAFEST, Emancipation Day, and the Ghana Carnival to offer the opportunity for building bridges among peoples of African descent, and celebrating their knowledge, insights, skills and aspirations,” the Minister added.
She explained that PANAFEST was usually held between July and August; however, as a result of the global impact of the Ebola epidemic on visitation to the West African sub-region, it was decided among the partners to shift this year’s celebration to December.
“Not celebrating PANAFEST this year would have had dire consequences on the brand world,” she observed.
She said 2015 edition was the launching pad for the 2017 re-branding and strengthening of the festival in order to raise its profile.
Mrs Ofosu-Adjare said among events outlined for the PANAFETS 2015; Legacy and Legacy with its springboard platform would lead a frank debate about the possibilities offered by the UN decade on people of African descent.
On the Ghana Carnival, she said the reason for instituting it in 2013 was simply to use that kind of event to boost tourism, culture and creative arts in the country.
She said it aims at promoting the Ghanaian culture and identity for national development, creating the enabling environment for domestic tourism to thrive.
She said all the 10 regions would be presenting cultural groups to perform and showcase the values and identities at the two events.
She urged the traditional authorities and the relevant metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to come with innovative ways of increasing their ownership of these festivals in their jurisdictions.
Professor Esi Sutherland Addy, Chairman of the PANAFEST 2015 Planning Committee urged the media to support and promote the events.
GNA