Mr Emmanuel Frimpong, a tourism consultant, has called for the repositioning of PANAFEST and Emancipation Day to enhance their contribution to tourism, investment, cultural diplomacy and economic development.
He said while the two celebrations remained historically significant, they should evolve to reflect contemporary development priorities and maximise their economic, cultural and diplomatic impact.
Mr Frimpong, Founding President of the Africa Tourism Research Network (ARTN), made the proposal in an interview with the media on Wednesday.
He say “it is time for Ghana to rethink, not replace, PANAFEST and Emancipation Day. The festivals remain historically significant, but they need to evolve to reflect the aspirations of the 21st century and maximise their economic, cultural and diplomatic impact”.
He proposed expanding the celebrations to include investment forums, tourism and hospitality exhibitions, creative economy marketplaces, start-up competitions and diaspora business networking sessions to strengthen their economic value.
Mr Frimpong said exhibitions showcasing African fashion, film, music, technology and other creative industries should also be incorporated to attract investors and further promote Ghana as a preferred tourism destination.
He advocated greater youth participation through digital storytelling, artificial intelligence exhibitions on African heritage, virtual reality experiences, gaming, youth leadership summits and Pan-African innovation challenges.
He also called for stronger engagement with the African diaspora through genealogy and ancestry services, citizenship and residency information centres, volunteer programmes, university exchange initiatives and heritage entrepreneurship projects.
Mr Frimpong said PANAFEST was established to reconnect Africa with its diaspora, promote healing following the transatlantic slave trade and celebrate African identity, while Emancipation Day honoured the resilience of enslaved Africans.
He noted that although those objectives remained relevant, the celebrations should also address issues such as economic emancipation, youth empowerment, innovation and stronger partnerships between Africans on the continent and in the diaspora.
“Remembrance is essential, but we should also ask what African freedom means today, how Africa can achieve economic emancipation and how young Africans and the diaspora can build prosperity together,” he said.
Mr Frimpong urged the Government and other stakeholders to position PANAFEST as a continental platform for heritage tourism, Pan-African cooperation, creative industries and investment.
He proposed restructuring the celebrations into a Pan-African Heritage and Future Festival anchored on four pillars: Remember, Reconnect, Rebuild and Rise.
