A PANAFEST support group has been formed in the United Kingdom to contribute towards the success of PANAFEST '96 and future festivals, reports the Ghana News Agency.

A statment issued by the Public Relations Department of the PANAFEST Secretariat in Accra last week, said the 16-member group comprising Ghanaians and notable Pan African in the UK is under the chairmanship of Ms Maureen Salmon, a performing arts officer of South East Arts, England.

Other members include Ms Alexander Ankrah, of Arts councils of England who is a member of PANAFEST's International Advisory Board, Dr Adotey Bing, Director of the African Centre in London, Ms Yvonne Brester, Director of Talawa Theatre and Mr jan Hall, a prominent Guyanses musician and President of the Bloomsbury International Society, based in London.

According to the secretariat of the UK PANAFEST Support Group, following the PANAFEST'94, a number of participants from the UK met to discuss their experience during the festival, while exploring ways to contribute towards the next PANAFEST.

A national meeting held in London at the Arts Council of England in March, therefore, decided on the group's formation to support the growth and development of PANAFEST, as well as to encourage wider participation from the UL during future festivals.

The release said the the group aspired to become a parmanent support body to PANAFEST and would co-ordinate and disseminate information about the festival.