Accra July 22, GNA - Mr Freddie Blay, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, on Friday said the celebration of Emancipation Day should be a universal event as it demonstrated the importance of freedom and liberty.

He said "any nation, state, people and individual that do not place importance on history to take lessons from it eventually loses her bearing and values."

Mr Blay was speaking at this year's Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra to remember African heroes, who fought against slavery.

Representatives of the African-American Association of Ghana, the Ghana-Caribbean Association, African Diplomatic Corps and Chiefs laid wreaths.

Mr Blay said in celebrating the occasion one remembered Pan-Africanists, who fought for Emancipation.

The celebration of Emancipation Day this year would be focused on honouring Africans, who played key roles in engendering freedom movements. Africans need unity of resolve and purpose, he said, adding: "Unity that will release the energies of the Africans and the unity that will truly make the 21st century the African century. "I, therefore, challenge this generation of Africans whether on the homeland or in the Diaspora to rise up to the challenge and prove the resilience of the African spirit and the resourcefulness of the African mind," Mr Blay said.

Mr Ferdinand Ayim, Chairman of the Planning Committee of PANAFEST-Emancipation reiterated the need for Africans all over the world to unite, saying: "The challenge is now, to unite and make the 21st century the African century".