By Anthony Adongo Apubeo, GNA
Nania (U/E), Aug 02, GNA – Mr Henry Yeleduor, the Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), has called on Africans in the diaspora to invest in their roots to help rebuild the economies of African countries.
He said it was time for Africans, particularly Ghanaians, who had lost their identity through colonisation and slave trade to trace their roots and unite through the immense cultural heritage to help build a resilient economy.
Mr Yeleduor made the call at the Pikworo Slave Camp at Nania Community in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region, as part of activities marking this year’s Emancipation Day.
It was organised by the Ghana Tourism Authority under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture in collaboration with the Panafest Secretariat on the theme, “Our Heritage, Our Strength; Re-engaging to Consolidate our Development Agenda.”
More than 400 years ago, Africans and Ghanaians in particular were taken as slaves, subjected to inhuman activities at the Nania Community and taken through Salaga, Bono Manso, Assin Manso and to Cape Coast on foot.
These slaves were transported from through the Caribbeans to the Americas and Europe.
The annual Emancipation Day event is therefore celebrated to honour the struggle, deaths, and survival of the ancestors.
The Regional Director noted that the Pikworo Slave Camp was significant and held the remnants and comprehensive package of unique and exciting vestiges of the slave trade in the sub-region and underscored the need to harness the potentials for socioeconomic development.
“We must let the Emancipation Day remind us of our entire shared heritage as we use the vehicle of tourism, arts, and culture to strengthen our bond. This day should continue to signify a rebirth for us as a people, help move us together to rebuild and regain our loss,” he said.
Mr Yeleduor noted that the Government of Ghana through the Tourism Development Fund had begun developing the site by improving the infrastructure, including an administration block and a waiting area while plans were underway to construct entrance periphery fence wall with a gate, a car park, washrooms and summer huts.
He said the Government, through the Ghana Tourism Development Project Grant, a World Bank funded project was also developing the Zenga Crocodile Pond; and the intervention was expected to increase tourists’ visits to the sites and grow the local economy through employment creation and revenue generation.
He acknowledged contributions of some diasporans and said, “this site has a great potential and together we can make it blossom to bring the needed benefits to the community, the district, the region and the country as a whole.”
Mr Gerard Ataogye, the District Chief Executive for the Kassena-Nankana West, noted that slave trade had left a devastating mark on the local economy and urged the diaspora community to initiate development projects in the area, support to the vulnerable.
Pe Thomas Allou, a Divisional Chief of Kazogo community, appealed to the diaspora community to assist the community with educational infrastructure and scholarships for students to enhance the standard of education in the area for rapid development.
The celebration was marked with a night vigil on July 31 and climaxed the following day, with wreath laying at the cemetery of the Pikworo Slave Camp.
GNA
