The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), has launched emancipation day 2024 celebrations in Ghana.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Unity and resilience; building stronger communities for a brighter future”.
Emancipation Day marks the abolition of slavery in the British Colonies in 1834. It is an annual observance which was introduced in Ghana in 1998.
Ghana is therefore the first African nation to commemorate the resistance and liberation struggle of African people in the diaspora against enslavement and the violation of their human rights.
CEO, Ghana Tourism Authority, Mr. Akwasi Agyeman, giving his welcome address, stated that the auspicious occasion has been in Ghana for 26 years and Ghana became the first African country to celebrate emancipation.
“This is also to remember the founders and those whose ideas started this journey some of them are still alive with us, we salute them for their courage, their vision and foresight that through this freedom and unity and the emancipation of the African family is celebrated also in the African continent”.
He explained that the celebration is to honor the courage of our ancestors and the immense courage they exhibited.
“As you go through the slave routes in Ghana from Salaga through Pikworo, Bono-manso, Assin praso, Assin manso, sometimes you wonder how could anybody survive this but people were marched on foot in chains, beaten up, put in dungeons but they survived so today, we can look back and be encouraged in their bravery and draw inspiration from remembering the determination we can also need to build on for the future of the next generation” he added.
He noted that emancipation is also about celebrating our dynamic culture as he believes that one thing that binds us together is our unique culture, music, dance and rhythms.
“We’re also here as a united community as it says in our theme all the communities which have become in some cases a scar in the memory of humanity needs to be developed so, we at the tourism authority working with other agencies have been working on a program to make sure that the various forts and castles that we have here which we call dungeons are developed and preserved so that the story will continue to be told again and again not just to give us pain but also to remind us that this is never again should we allow this happen”.
Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mark Okraku Mantey who launched the event stated that, “As we remember the struggles of the past, let us also look forward to a future where justice, authority and freedom prevail. Building on the agenda of the Akufo-Addo government committed to building development, we are extending the celebration of emancipation to touch all slave roots”.
He highlighted that construction works are ongoing at salaga slave market and Pikworo in the Savanna and other venues and this strategic initiative ensures that we honor the memory of our ancestors and educate future generations about their sacrifices throughout the country.
“Emancipation day is not just a historic event. It is a call to action, a reminder that our journey towards freedom continues and it’s not over until it’s over. Together we will reclaim our identity and ensure a brighter future for generations to come” he concluded.
The event will begin on 22nd July, 2024 at the Salaga- Savannah Region to commission the Salaga Slave Market and end on 1st August 2024 at the Assin Manso School Park for an Emancipation Day Durbar.