In a poignant commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, Ghana on Saturday, June 21, hosted a vibrant Juneteenth Festival at the forecourt of the Accra Tourism Information Centre.
The event, organized by the African American Association of Ghana (AAAG) in partnership with the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), marked the 159th anniversary of Juneteenth — the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Texas finally learned of their emancipation, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Delivering a speech on behalf of the CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Mrs. Marilyn Maame Efua Houadjeto, Mr. Bright Asempa Tsadidey underscored the festival’s deeper significance, calling it “a moment of deep cultural resonance and historical remembrance.”
Mrs. Houadjeto emphasized that Juneteenth is not just an American holiday but a global call for unity, reflection, and reconnection among people of African descent worldwide.
“Juneteenth is not just a commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States,” she said, “it is a call to reflection, unity, and forward movement for the global African family.
Today, as we gather on this sacred land, we are not only celebrating freedom, but also resilience, identity, and the enduring bonds between Africa and its diaspora.”
She also highlighted Ghana’s ongoing role as a spiritual and cultural home for the African diaspora, reaffirming the country’s commitment to reconnecting descendants of the transatlantic slave trade with their ancestral roots.
“As Ghana continues to position itself as the gateway to the African homeland, we remain deeply committed to fostering relationships with our brothers and sisters in the diaspora.
Through initiatives such as the Year of Return, Beyond the Return, and active participation in events like this, the Ghana Tourism Authority affirms its dedication to reconnection, cultural celebration and collective progress,” she added.
The Vice President of the African American Association of Ghana, Mr. Maurice Cheetham, offered historical context to the event.
“In 1863, the President of the United States announced the emancipation of slaves in the southern states, but they didn’t know this for two years.
There was no TikTok, Instagram, or web. It wasn’t until June 19, 1865, that Union soldiers arrived in Texas to inform them of their freedom,” he explained.
Mr. Cheetham also emphasized that Juneteenth is not merely an American event but an African story as well — one rooted in the shared history of a people who were forcibly scattered but continue to reconnect across continents.
He outlined how members of the AAAG are contributing to Ghana’s development, particularly in education and community development.
“Several of us run community organizations that give back. We have a group in the Volta Region that just built a school. We have the African STEM Academy, where I work with youth. The basis of what we do is to give back to the community,” he said.
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