Redirect youth energy towards Africa’s development — Mahama
The 10th edition of the PANAFEST and Emancipation Day celebrations opened in Cape Coast last Saturday with a call on African leaders to redirect the energies of the youth towards finishing the Pan African struggle to achieve the desired development on the continent.
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The President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, who made the call, said African leaders had a responsibility to redirect the energies of the youth to build a more prosperous Africa.
The celebration is on the theme: "Pan Africanism and the African Renaissance- The unfinished Agenda.”
Traditional rulers in colourful traditional regalia from all over the country, as well as many from the diaspora, participated in the ceremony.
The President urged African leaders to work to create transparent and accountable environments where all people felt part of governance for growth.
He indicated that efforts aimed at the development of Africans would remain a “fleeting illusion”, if all resources were not properly harnessed for the betterment of the continent and its people.
President Mahama said it was sad that slavery continued to exist in various forms where many of the youth risked their lives to travel abroad in search of greener pastures and that many were discriminated against in sports.
He said Africa and Africans everywhere must unite in solidarity and work to ensure that the continent took its rightful place in world politics.
President Mahama noted that the fact that six of the world’s fastest growing economies were in Africa of which Ghana was one, was an indication that Africa’s rebirth and renaissance was not out of reach.
The Minister of Tourism, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, said the festival offered a platform for all Africans to join hands to win the struggle for emancipation.
A representative of the Board of the PANAFEST Foundation, Mrs Esi Sutherland Addy, said Africans must resist all attempts to make them feel inferior.
She urged the government and all to commit themselves to endowing PANAFEST with the needed resources to sustain the festival.
The Central Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Sarpong, said the festival was not only about dancing and drumming but to re-orient Pan-Africanism and its effects on Africans.
The Omahen of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarimba Kwesi Atta, said the struggle must be won for Africa to take its rightful place in development.