Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang is calling on African governments to prioritize investment in the youth. She believes Africa’s growing youth population presents an opportunity, not a burden.
Speaking at the launch of the 2025 PANAFEST in Cape Coast, the Vice President emphasized that the continent must implement youth-centered policies to harness this potential. She commended the current administration’s commitment to such policies, stressing that Africa must boldly demonstrate its contributions to the global community.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang also urged Africans to value their history and learn from their elders with humility.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Dzifa Abla Gomashie highlighted the significance of PANAFEST and Emancipation Day. She said these events remind Africans of the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade and the enduring spirit of their ancestors.
She described this year’s theme as a call for reparative justice, urging Africans not only to remember, but to act.
The Minister condemned the long-standing exploitation of African resources and labour, saying slavery created economic systems that kept Africa dependent on European markets.
She encouraged the continent to break that chain and reclaim its independence.
Madam Dzifa Gomashie, said, the ministry proudly champions the Black Star Experience, which integrates major cultural festivals like PANAFEST, Emancipation Day, the Year of Return, and Beyond the Return to promote Pan-African unity and pride.
