The Ghana Tourism Authority has officially launched PANAFEST 2025, calling for a stronger movement toward reparative justice through Pan-African artistic activism.
At the launch event held on Monday, June 23, at the Accra Tourist Information Centre, the Authority’s CEO, Maame Efua Houadjeto, warmly welcomed stakeholders from across Ghana and the diaspora to this global cultural celebration.
This year’s theme, “Let Us Speak of Reparative Justice – Pan-African Artistic Activism,” emphasizes the urgent need for a united African voice to confront historical injustices and reclaim cultural identity through the power of art.
“This launch is more than a ceremony; it’s a declaration,” Madam Houadjeto stated. “As the Gateway to Africa, Ghana continues to embrace the African family and lead efforts toward cultural restitution, identity restoration, and historical truth.”
Since its inception in 1992, PANAFEST has become a globally acclaimed platform that promotes cultural reconnection, dialogue, and healing for Africans and the diaspora.
The 2025 edition will feature a rich program including dramatic reenactments, academic symposiums, diaspora dialogues, youth engagements, and artistic exhibitions.
“From spoken word to digital storytelling, our creativity has always been central to our survival,” she noted, highlighting the vital role of the arts in both resistance and healing.
Madam Houadjeto also linked PANAFEST to Ghana’s National Reset Agenda, underscoring culture and heritage tourism as key pillars of national growth.
She concluded with a rallying call: “Let PANAFEST 2025 be a platform where we boldly voice essential truths and reclaim narratives that have been distorted for too long.”
The launch event gathered government officials, traditional leaders, international partners, artists, and the public in eager anticipation of the upcoming festival.
