Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has urged Africans worldwide to resist all forms of oppression and stand strong in today’s global landscape.
She was speaking at the official launch of the 2025 Pan-African Historical Theatre Festival (PANAFEST) in Cape Coast on July 26.
“Let us tell our own stories. Let us honour our resistance,” the Vice President urged, as she opened the biennial event that brings together Africans from across the continent and the diaspora.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang said this year’s festival must go beyond remembrance and focus on reconnection and transformation. She stressed that PANAFEST and Emancipation Day are not just for looking back but also for shaping the future of African unity, pride, and youth empowerment.
Highlighting the continent’s young population, she said:
“We are a youthful continent, and the Mahama administration is committed to investing in young people.”
Tourism Minister Abla Dzifa Gomashie also used the occasion to highlight the importance of identity and dignity. She said her ministry is building a strong agenda to use culture and heritage as a base for national growth and tourism.
The Omanhen of Oguaa, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, pledged the full support of the traditional council and called for stronger links with the African diaspora. He said investment in culture, history and people will be key to building that connection.
PANAFEST was first held in 1992 and has grown into a major event celebrating African culture through theatre, music, dance, and rituals. This year’s edition leads into Emancipation Day on August 1, which marks the end of slavery and reflects on the struggles and triumphs of the African people.
The Vice President ended her speech with a strong message of hope and courage.
“We must live without fear. We must know who we are and find our confidence again,” she said.
