The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and its partners have laid wreaths in memory of persons who made contributions to Pan-Africanism and the development of Africa.

The event forms part of activities for this year's Pan African Theatre Festival (PANAFEST) and Emancipation Day celebrations.

The wreaths were laid during different ceremonies at the Du Bois Centre, the George Padmore Library, and finally at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.

Speaking at the final event at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal urged the diaspora to dismiss the perception that Africa is a land full of diseases and corruption.

He urged Africans in the diaspora to support the development of the continent. 

He stated, “Let us ignore the Western media narrative about Africa. To the Western media, Africa is hopeless, full of disease and corruption. Africa is beyond that.

"We need this partnership between the diaspora and Africa. Let us build the human resources of Africa so that tomorrow, we will not complain too much about slavery.

"The Destination Africa project cannot succeed without the diaspora”.

He further stated “We have to go beyond the political emancipation of Africa. We need to focus on the economic development of Africa. I want you to look back to the homeland, build partnerships, and build relationships with your motherland so that we can grow from there.”

On his part, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman urged all Africans in the diaspora to work and break the mental chains that stop them from going all out to achieve the best for the continent.

He said “It is time for us to re-educate ourselves about what emancipation means, about what the struggle means, and about what our forefathers went through hundreds of years of struggles so that you and I can be free. 

"The chains are off but the chains are in our minds, we need to free ourselves of the mental slavery that still holds us down.”

Emancipation Day was set aside for the liberation of slaves in the Americas and the Caribbean, it is celebrated to encourage descendants of Africa to come back home and develop their continent

PANAFEST is a festival that promotes Pan-Africanism, through the medium of Arts and Culture.

It is organised by the Panafest Foundation in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority under the auspices of the government of Ghana.

This year's event is on the theme, Emancipation! Empowering the African family to confront the challenges of the 21st Century.