Accra, July 22, GNA - Mr Baladu Manu, MP for Ahafo Ano South, on Friday urged government to initiate a program leading to the compensation of African countries that suffer injustices during slave trade.

Mr Manu who was commenting on the celebration of Panafest on July 23, accused Africans for that matter Ghanaians for aiding the slave trade.

He said it was Africans who fought and captured their own brothers and sisters and sold them into slavery.

He said though slavery had been abolished long ago, there were new forms of slavery in which Africans were no more captured and sold into slavery but were rushed into slavery through other forms like visa lotteries.

Mr Manu noted that most Africans were not totally emancipated from slavery.

“We are not emancipated politically, socially or psychologically and our economy is still attached to the economy of the West, when their economies cough, our economies catch cold,” he said.

Mr Emmanuel Buah, National Democratic Congress (NDC) member for Ellembele, paid tribute to Mrs Efua Sutherland who in 1980s suggested the Panafest idea as a cultural vehicle to bring together Africans on the continent and in the Diaspora.

He noted that this celebration must remind Ghanaians about their painful history.

He said Panafest must be revitalized as a tool to create jobs and give hope to the youth adding that it must also be used as a place to exchange ideas.

He argued that America, Japan and China were successful nations today because they adopted best practices elsewhere and applied them to their situation.

Mr Kofi Jumah New Patriotic Party (NPP) member for Asokwa, said it was important we remembered our history through the use of Panafest and called for peace and unity among all blacks.

Mr Fritz Baffour, NDC member for Ablekuma South, said Panafest was a means of telling the history of Ghana and called on the government to resource the Museum and Monuments Board to be able to preserve Ghana’s historical heritage.

Madam Ekua Dansua Minister for Tourism in her statement said the Emancipation Day which started since 1988 had been celebrated annually.

“We pride ourselves as the only African country that celebrates this event with a lot of emotion, passion and interest,” she said, adding that it was a continued call on Africans to become more committed to the emancipation of the entire Africa continent from slavery.

This year’s event starts on the July 23, with wreath laying ceremonies at the DuBois Centre, George Padmore Library and the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park tomorrow.

There will be a grand durbar of chiefs and people of Cape Coast on Monday July 25.

There will also be a visit to historical sites in Cape Coast and Elmina, a two day colloquium to review the role of Panafest from Wednesday July 27, to Thursday 28 at the University of Cape Coast.

This will be followed by a symbolic crossing of River Pra on Saturday July 30 2011.

On July 31, there will be a Redemption March and Reverential Night which would include a Candle Light Procession through the Cape Coast Castle and on August 1, the celebration will be climaxed with Emancipation Day Celebration.