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Use celebration of PANAFEST to enhance
development of Africa
Cape Coast, July 28, Ghanadot/GNA - The Central Regional
Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, on Saturday called on Africans at
home and in the Diaspora to use the celebration of Pan-African
Historical Theatre Festival (PANAFEST) as a platform to
forge ahead with a new vision for the growth of the
continent.
He said there was the need for a greater trade and
investment collaboration between Africans and their
counterparts in the Diaspora.
Nana Arthur made the call at a durbar to mark the opening of
the 8th edition of PANAFEST at Cape Coast. It is being
celebrated on the theme: "Pan-Africanism in the context of
African political, socio-economic development".
In Cape Coast for the festival were numerous African groups,
including delegations from the Caribbean, Bahamas, North
America and Surinam, who were being treated to cultural
performances by popular troupes from Nigeria, Canada and
Ghana, among others.
PANAFEST is a cultural event dedicated to the enhancement of
the ideals of Pan Africanism and the development of Africa.
It is held biennially for Africans and people of African
descent as well as persons committed to the well being of
the continent and its citizens in the Diaspora.
Nana Arthur noted that over the years, the event had created
the awareness among participants about Ghana's history and
culture and that monuments such as the castles and forts
which were used in enslaving Africans had become significant
not only to Ghanaians but to all others who cherished the
African heritage.
He said lessons from PANAFEST were enormous and urged all to
follow the debate on the proposed formation of a United
States of Africa and other initiatives, which he stressed,
could set the stage for the attainment of the continent's
development agenda.
"We should stay united to confront that aspect of our
cultural values and traditions which urge us on to fulfil
our potentials as people and members of our country and
continent," the Regional Minister added.
He invited Africans in the Diaspora to invest in Ghana to
help create jobs for the youth, adding that the celebrations
should be translated into viable projects to enhance
socio-economic development.
The various delegations read solidarity messages in which
most of them stressed the need for African unity for
development.
GNA
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