Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called on African governments to prioritize investment in the continent’s youth, describing them as Africa’s greatest asset.
Speaking at the official launch of the 2025 PANAFEST celebrations in Cape Coast, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang noted that Africa’s large youth population presents a unique opportunity for sustainable development—if nurtured through bold, youth-centered policies.
“Our youth should not be seen as a burden but as a powerful advantage,” she said. “This government, which I’m proud to be part of, is determined to invest in the potential of young people. Africa must not shy away from showcasing its contributions to the world.”
She further emphasized the importance of history in shaping the continent’s future, adding that welcoming Africans in the diaspora must go hand-in-hand with honouring the continent’s past.
“Our elders carry our history. When we approach them with humility, they will teach us,” she added.
Also speaking at the launch, the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture underscored how PANAFEST and Emancipation Day serve as annual reminders of the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade, the pain endured by enslaved Africans, and the strength of their descendants.
She called for reparative justice and urged Africans to move beyond remembrance and take bold steps to reclaim their economic and cultural sovereignty.
“Slavery deprived Africa of its resources, culture, and labour, and forced us into economic dependency on European markets. It is time to break that chain,” she declared.
The Ministry, she added, remains committed to initiatives such as the Black Star Experience, which brings together major cultural events like PANAFEST, Emancipation Day, the Year of Return, and Beyond the Return, to strengthen Pan-African unity and cultural pride.
Source: Kafui Justice
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