Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang formally inaugurated this year’s Pan African Historical Theatre Festival (PANAFEST) in Cape Coast on Saturday, July 27.

The ceremony marked the grand opening of the 17th edition of the Pan African Historical Theatre Festival and Emancipation Day celebrations. In a speech, the vice president called on African leaders to tap into the potential of their youth and train them to prepare them for the future.

She said governments in Africa must be deliberate about investing in their youth through various youth-centred policies to enhance their potential. “When we say that the youth are our future, we must mean it, and it must reflect in everything we do. That is what this government—which I am proud to be part of—is striving for,” she insisted.

The vice president also urged the general public to strive to learn the country’s history. On her part, she said the narratives are still alive, and the elders will be more than willing to share if they are asked humbly. “History is important. Studying is important. Nobody has forgotten. The narrative is still alive if we want to find it. Our elders have the history, and if we approach them with humility, they will teach us. History must teach us. It will only teach us when we do the hard work of telling our own story.”

She also called on all Africans worldwide to come together to promote the continent to become a desired destination to all and sundry. “We are in Europe, we are in Asia, we are in the Caribbean, we are in the Americas and beyond. When we talk about the African family, we need to connect all the dots, or we will not make the progress we need to make,” she added.

This year’s PANAFEST celebration, marking the 17th edition, is on the theme “Let us speak of reparative justice—Pan-African artistic activism.” In light of the theme, the vice president also mentioned that reparations must go beyond money to include dignity, justice, and opportunity.

“It has moral, political, and economic implications. We want to see a time when Africans are not living at the razor’s edge of life, no matter where they are—rich or poor,” she emphasised.

The ceremony, held at the historic Jubilee Park, was filled with colour, pomp, and pageantry. The Oguaamanhene, together with some chiefs of the Oguaa Traditional Area and Paramount Chiefs from other traditional areas in the region, earlier embarked on a procession through some principal streets of Cape Coast, led by the seven Asafo companies to the ceremonial park.

With the national colours of red, gold, green, and black used to beautify the park, the white theme perfectly complemented the colourful apparel of the traditional leaders, dignitaries, and the hundreds of other celebrants to create a picturesque scene. A vivid re-enactment of the slave trade, which ended in freedom, rekindled the spirit of Pan-Africanism and the commitment to African liberation and development among the people, particularly those from the Diaspora.

Also, the Queen Mother of Effutu and Krontihemaa of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Nana Amba Eyiaba I, led a sacred ritual to welcome the African returnees back home, marking them with white clay to signify victory and joy. The ceremony saw activities like musicals, dance and fashion concerts, spirituality and interfaith dialogues, colloquiums, artists’ workshops, a Pan African food fair, and a women’s day celebration.

Professor Naana Jane also urged the participation of more young people in PANAFEST and related festivities to inform and empower them for the present and the future, insisting that history must be taught and learnt. “History must teach us. It will only teach us when we do the hard work of telling our own story. When we continue to tell our story as others have told us, we will not make the progress we are supposed to make,” she said.

Osabarimba Kwesi Atta shared stories of the torture and cruelty our forefathers suffered at the hands of past colonialists, indicating that PANAFEST was not merely a festival but a spiritual journey, a homecoming, and a platform for true healing, cultural expression, and solidarity.

He noted that repatriation, beyond the return of Africans in the Diaspora, also concerned economic, spiritual, intellectual, and cultural reconnection. “Let us move from nostalgia to nation building; from return to restoration. Development is no longer a dream; it is a shared responsibility. It is about creating an Africa where all Africans feel they belong and are safe,” he added.

That included creating safe and sustainable spaces for investment by Diaspora returnees and forming lasting economic partnerships between local communities and Diasporan investors to stimulate growth and employment.

“Development is no longer a dream; it is a shared responsibility,” he stressed, urging the African in the diaspora to feel at home and see themselves as natives. He urged the Diasporan community to see themselves as indigenes, not strangers, saying, “...your place in our future is not optional; it is essential. Let us move from nostalgia to nation building, from return to restoration.”

Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie added her voice to the call for reparations, saying it is not just about compensation but about facing the truth of our history and making things right for the future. She stressed the need to change the narrative and restore pride and dignity to African people, both those on the continent and those living abroad.

“We can do that through art, culture, storytelling, and music; through fashion and films; dance and drumming; and through the cultural and creative industries, which are tools for resilience, remembrance, and reclamation,” she stated.

Speaking at the event, Madam Sutherland-Addy reflected on how far PANAFEST has come and emphasised the need for it to truly become a people’s festival—one that belongs to and is shaped by the communities it celebrates. She encouraged wider public involvement to ensure its growth and relevance.

Turning her attention to the youth, she urged them to take to heart the stories and lessons embedded in the festival’s history, using them as a compass to guide their paths and choices. She also thanked past and present governments for standing by the festival over the years and expressed hope that this support would continue, saying, “Let’s keep pushing to make it even bigger.”

In his remarks, Central Regional Minister Mr. Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah called on Ghanaians to stay committed to the country’s progress, stressing that as they advocate for reparations, they must also remain patriotic and hold themselves accountable.

President John Dramani Mahama has thrown his full weight behind the African Union’s agenda this year to seek justice for Africans and people of African descent who have been directly and indirectly affected by colonialism and slavery.

Delivering his African Day 2025 message based on the Union’s theme this year, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,” the President emphasized the need for a united front in addressing the lingering effects of slavery, colonialism, and neo-colonialism, which he described as historical injustices that have cast a shadow on the lives and progress of Africans and Africans in the Diaspora.

“As the AU Champion for this critical cause, I am deeply committed to working with you all to achieve this vital objective. Reparations are not merely about financial compensation. They are about acknowledging the profound and enduring damage inflicted upon our people,” he said.

The president further outlined an approach to justice that involves official apologies from complicit nations and institutions, cancellation of unjust debt burdens, and return of stolen cultural artefacts, encouraging increased investment in African education and development as part of the reparation process.

“We seek justice—justice that encompasses a comprehensive range of measures. Addressing the crippling debt burden that continues to stifle economic growth in many African nations—a direct consequence of exploitation and unfair trade practices—is essential,” he said.

President Mahama urged fellow African leaders, civil society organisations, youth groups, and members of the diaspora to join hands in pushing for reparations, stressing the importance of advocacy, dialogue, and solidarity.

“Let us work together to build a future where justice prevails, where the wounds of the past are healed, and where the potential of every African and person of African descent is fully realised,” he said. He called on African leaders, civil society, and the diaspora to forge a united front. “Let Africa Day 2025 be a turning point. Let the pursuit of reparations be a testament to our resilience and belief in a brighter future,” he remarked.