By Prince Acquah
Assin Manso (C/R), July 23, GNA – A historic moment of bliss and delight unfolded at the Minta Abu Palace in the heart of Assin Manso, when pilgrims touring the slave trade routes across Ghana, paid homage to the revered chiefs of the Assin Apimanim Traditional Area in the Central Region.
A spirited demonstration of tradition and culture, infectious smiles of the chiefs, and an open appreciation for the courtesy made the pilgrims, mostly Africans from the diaspora, feel at home.
Together with some officials of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and queen mothers, the travellers danced their hearts out to rhythms from traditional drums.
The pilgrims have since Thursday, July 17, been on a sacred journey of immersion, emotion, learning, reflection, and reconnection, touring of various towns and site along the slave routes.
The weeklong pilgrimage celebrates Emancipation and the Pan African Historical Theatre Festival (PANAFEST) with visits to significant places including Pikworo Slave Camp in Paga, Salaga Slave Market in Tamale, Bono Manso, Cape Coast among others.
The “Nnkonsuo” (Slave river) at Assin Manso, where slaves took their last bath before being taken to Cape Coast and Elmina Castles for shipment to America and the Caribbean, left great emotional impact on the visitors.
Mr Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey, also known as Abeiku Santana, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GTA, who led the visitors, acknowledged the significant place of Assin Manso in the dark history of slavery and expressed the regret over their exclusion from PANAFEST over the years.
He indicated that the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture was working to resuscitate and modernise the festival to enhance citizens’ participation and ensure every community along the slave route benefitted.
He observed that PANAFEST, since inception in 1992, had brought many developments and high-profile visits to Ghana, and birthed several other celebrations like the Year of Return and Beyond the Return and must be sustained.
Mr Aggrey noted that the pilgrimage was also intended to expose the African Diaspora to business and investment opportunities in the communities and appealed to the traditional authorities to release their lands for such investments.
“They may find interest in investing in agriculture, factories, hotels and other ventures that will bring jobs and development to the people.
“It is my fervent prayer, Nanaanom, that when they approach you for the lands, you will give it to them,” he stressed.
Mr Aggrey announced President John Dramani Mahama’s participation in the grand durbar of the PANAFEST on Saturday, July 26, at the Jubilee Park in Cape Coast.
Madam Ablah Dzifah Gomashie, the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, would, however, grace the climax of the Emancipation Day at Assin Manso on Friday, August 1, 2025.
Prof Kobby Mensah, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Development Company in charge of the Assin Manso Slave River, said the site was under a massive renovation to revamp it.
He said work to digitise the operations of the site to boost visits, ensure accountability in real-time, and mitigate revenue leakages in the system was in progress.
Mr Charles Buabin, the Central Regional Director of GTA, commended the chiefs for embracing PANAFEST.
He noted that the festival had been expanded to include new activities to bring more fun and make it beneficial to all patrons.
He was hopeful of massive developments in the communities through businesses and investments from the Africans in the Diaspora through the festival.
Nana Ofobi Ntow II, Chief of Atobease and Tufohene of the Apimanim Traditional Area, expressed gratitude to the pilgrims for the visit.
He expressed the readiness of the chiefs to give out their lands for investments.
“We have enough lands to give out to whoever is ready to invest here and so we are inviting you to come,” he emphasized.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/Lydia Kukua Asamoah