The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has commemorated Emancipation Day 2026 with a wreath-laying ceremony at the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Grounds, the George Padmore Library and the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.
Delivering the keynote address, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Maame Efua Houadjeto, called on Africans to reject xenophobia and embrace unity, describing emancipation as a continuing journey toward dignity, justice and a shared African identity.
Speaking at the final resting place of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, she said there could hardly be a more fitting venue to commemorate Emancipation Day, noting that Nkrumah’s vision extended beyond Ghana’s borders to the total liberation and unity of Africa.
According to her, emancipation is not only about the abolition of slavery but also about ensuring that modern forms of hatred, intolerance, exclusion and division do not imprison the African spirit.
Maame Efua Houadjeto stressed that Africa’s political boundaries should never become barriers to shared humanity, insisting that no African should be regarded as a foreigner on the continent.
She condemned recent incidents of xenophobia in parts of Africa and urged governments and citizens to uphold the spirit of Pan-Africanism.
“There can be no foreigner in Africa. The African who crosses a border in search of opportunity, education, refuge or a better future is not an outsider; he or she is our brother or sister,” she stated.
Reflecting on Africa’s history of solidarity, she recalled the support Ghana and other African countries extended to South Africans during the apartheid era, including providing free education to many South African students.
She said the same spirit of unity must continue to guide the continent today.
The GTA CEO also paid tribute to the countless unnamed men, women and children who endured the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade, saying their sacrifices laid the foundation for the resilience of Africans across the world.
She reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to reconnecting with the African diaspora through flagship initiatives such as the Year of Return, Beyond the Return and the Black Star Experience.
According to her, these initiatives go beyond tourism, serving as platforms for healing, reconciliation, cultural exchange and investment while strengthening ties between Africa and people of African descent across the globe.
Maame Efua Houadjeto urged Africans to honour the sacrifices of their ancestors by building a continent united in purpose, strengthened through cooperation and committed to justice, compassion and shared prosperity.
She concluded by calling on Africans everywhere to protect the continent’s shared heritage and ensure future generations inherit a united and peaceful Africa.
Story by : Belinda Anim Piesie
