Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang urged Africans to resist oppression and assert their rightful place globally during the launch of the 17th Pan-African Historical Theatre Festival (PANAFEST) in Cape Coast.
Speaking officially to open the event on July 26, 2025, she framed the festival as crucial for remembrance and learning. The Vice President stressed that confronting history requires telling Africa’s own story, encompassing both suffering and resistance.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang emphasized the transformative purpose of PANAFEST and Emancipation celebrations beyond commemoration. She described them as vital for honouring African resilience, acknowledging slavery’s painful legacy, and reuniting the global African family. The Vice President also highlighted the continent’s youth as a significant advantage, stating the Mahama administration prioritizes youth-centered policies and investment.
Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, echoed the focus on dignity and identity. Gomashie outlined a clear agenda to leverage cultural heritage as the foundation for national identity and tourism growth. Oguaamanhene Osabarima Kwesi Atta II pledged the Oguaa Traditional Council’s commitment to meaningful collaboration on diaspora repatriation. He declared the diaspora’s place in Africa’s future essential, calling for investment in cultural capital, history, and people.
The Vice President concluded her address by linking historical struggle to present-day confidence. She advocated for Africans to live without fear, find their confidence levels, and envision themselves firmly in the future. PANAFEST, established in 1992, remains a biennial platform promoting Pan-Africanism through theatre, music, dance, and traditional rites, attracting participants continent-wide and from the diaspora. The events coincide with Emancipation Day on August 1st, marking slavery’s abolition and reflecting on the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
