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PANAFEST 2017 Akwaaba ceremony held in Elmina
A colourful welcome ceremony was held on Wednesday at the forecourt of the Elmina Castle to mark the opening of the 2017 PANAFEST.
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Chiefs in traditional regalia from in and around Elmina and Cape Coast and many from the diaspora came to be part of the "Akwaaba ceremony."
The "family" from the diaspora were welcomed back home by Nana Amba Eyiaba, Kontihemaa of the Oguaa Traditional Area, after which they joined traditional "brothers and sisters" for a "love feast".
Beautiful cultural displays of gracefully dressed maidens added traditional glamour and glitz to the ceremony.
Rabbi Kohain Halevi, Executive Secretary of the PANAFEST Foundation said people of African descent must see themselves as one people with a common destiny to change their destinies for the better.
Unique Celebration
In an interview later, Rabbi Kohain said the PANAFEST was an opportunity to trace our roots us African people, noting our strengths and weakneses and forging ahead in strength.
More Diasporans Expected
He said the foundation was expecting more from the diaspora to come and participate in the festival.
He said many were expected to participate in the different activities linesd up in the week.
Comeback
He said the PANAFEST had not fully recovered from the Ebola scare in 2015.
He explained that after the 2015 festival was cancelled it had taken a lot of effort to support the festival.
That year the a " token" festival was held in December 2015 as PANAFEST.
Private Sector Support
Since then he said financial support to the festival had not been encouraging.
He indicated that the fact that the private sector had come on board to support was encouraging.
This year Tullow Ghana, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Ghana Commercial Bank, Graphic Communications Group, Ghana Airport and the National Lotteries Authority among other private sector institutions are sponsoring the festival.
"If we keep that confidence growing, we are on the right path. Now I believe we are back on track," he said.
He said he expected that PANAFEST would grow and be more attractive to participants and sponsor.
Activities Lined-up
Activities lined up for the PANAFEST include colloquium, Youth Day, grand durbar of chiefs and queens and a Reverential Night
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