A few days ago the headline of the article read; Panafest In Danger; "Dark clouds hang over this year's PANAFEST and Emancipation Day celebrations?. It cited people complaining about high airfares and poor service on the part of many major airlines. The article disclosed of international airlines charging between $1800 and $2000 from USA to Ghana, whereas the same airlines charge about $850 from USA to South Africa, which is a longer distance.
Panafest is an African treasure and promotes tourism for Ghana and no amount of high fares and poor services will put it in danger or be victimized. No amount of intimidation, racism and prejudices will prevent this dream to go on. Panafest has changed the lives of many African-Americans seeking to find their roots.
As a result of some Ghanaians fed up with being taken for granted by major airlines comes North American Airlines which embraced the Ghanaian community in New York to offer excellent services and charge affordable rates and on top of that offer a direct flight from New York, alleviating the inconvenience of long waits at transit countries.
We are in the era of genetic testing which has seen many celebrities know their roots. What has made Panafest a must attend event was an article on page 3 of the Philadelphia, Weekend Metro, dated June 10-12 with the headline; CITY SCHOOLS TO REQUIRE BLACK HISTORY"; Guidelines mandate a full-year course".
The article mentioned that the Philadelphia district will require all high school students to mandatory take a full year course on African American studies. Currently Philadelphia's public schools boasts two-thirds black and the district is the first in the United States to make African-American studies a requirement.
African American Studies as at now is offered as an elective at 11 of the city's 54 high schools. The teachers say that students who have taken it have been fascinated by it.
With Panafest as an annual event, it will help students who participate in it become acquainted with what they were never told and eventually knowing about their ancestors. It brings to mind the Joseph Project which has been initiated by the Ministry of Tourism and the Modernization of the Capital City.
Philly has a great connection with Ghana as Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah Ghana's founding father attended Lincoln University, class of 1939. An African American wealthy man in Philly once told me he used to work with our former President when they were students at Lincoln University.
Panafest should be publicized to the Philadelphia City Schools because it will serve as a life changing trip for the students while boosting tourism for Ghana. LET US KEEP PANAFEST ALIVE AND KICKING.
In the end, it is Ghana at the forefront of African civilization.
