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| Is PANAFEST losing its touch? |
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| Posted on: 2007-Aug-01 Ghanaian Times |
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With people across the world seeing the Pan African Historical Theatre Festival (PANAFEST) as a home coming event, activities preceding this year's programme indicate that the citizens are not that involved in the programme and even doubt its success.
Looking at the organisation of the programme of late, it is the fear of the people that the programme could be taken away from Ghana to another African Country which also has the same rich cultural and historical touch as Ghana.
PANAFEST, which has African Union (AU) backing, was instituted in 1992 by Efua Sutherland, a Ghanaian, as a platform to promote African culture and give Africans in the Diaspora the opportunity to come back home and reunite with their families.
The official opening of the 8th Panafest celebrations in Cape Coast on Saturday was described by some participants as the least patronized of all the celebrations.
In his address, the Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, called on the chiefs to help bring people in the region together and see themselves as part of the programme and not to see it as something for the Africans in the Diaspora.
This is because the official opening saw most of the Africans in the Diaspora than the citizens themselves.
The Regional Minister suggested that funerals and any other activity should be banned by the Oguaa Traditional Council during the celebration of such programmes.
He hoped this year's Panafest and Emancipation day would take another dimension from the previous ones, since it coincides with the 50th anniversary of Ghana and the 200th anniversary of the Slave Trade.
Exhibitors at this year's Panafest trade fair who spoke on condition of anonymity about how the programme, especially the fair is losing its touch from time to time, expressed their disappointment at the organisation of the fair but hoped it would be better in the subsequent days.
About 110 exhibitors from Ghana, Nigeria and Burkina Faso were expected to take part in the programme which was under the theme; "Reuniting the African Family".
The Assistant Director of Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Olaintan Otulana in a solidarity message urged the organisers of the programme to use the occasion to honour the heroes and heroines who fought for the total liberation of the African continent.
He urged Africans to tackle the issue of economic and social development very seriously to help move the continent ahead.
The Omanhen of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osaberima Kwesi Atta II, charged Africans not to forget who they are and where they want to go, saying they have wasted too much time in telling their story and that they should now put it in action.
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