The Trans Atlantic Slave Trade resulted in the forced movement of men and women particularly between ages fifteen and thirty five who were tragically uprooted and inhumanly transported from the motherland. They were extracted from their paths of development, separated from their kith and kin and transplanted to foreign lands under a system of slavery.

Emancipation Day is celebrated every year in Ghana beginning in the last week of July and climaxing on August 1st, the anniversary of the declaration of the emancipation of slaves.

An event celebrated annually in Ghana since 1998, Emancipation Day provides us an opportunity to go back into history and find out more about an activity most cruel in human history and whose effect has been with the World ever since and been the subject of intense universal debates, especially in recent times.

We need to learn more about the slave trade, find out the roles of our ancestors in its perpetration, use it as a basis to understand our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora the more, and find out how to turn that tragedy into something more positive for the African continent, the Black Community universally and the world at large.

EMANICPATION DAY 2006- GHANA

THEME: EMANCIPATION, OUR HERITAGE OUR STRENGTH Sub-theme: Honoring Our African Heroes


Educational Events & Film Shows

1) Public Lectures
Upper West Wednesday 17th May 2006
Upper East Wednesday 24th May 2006
Brong Ahafo Wednesday 31st May 2006
Northern Wednesday 7th June 2006
Western Wednesday 14th June, 2006
Accra Wednesday 21st June 2006
Volta Wednesday 28th June, 2006
Ashanti Wednesday 5th July, 2006
Eastern Wednesday 12th July, 2006
Central Wednesday 19th July 2006



2) National Essay Competition

Topic: Discuss the role of African heroes in the struggle for Emancipation from Slavery

- a. 2nd Cycle Schools
- b. Tertiary institutions


3)Main Activities

a.Sunday 23rd July 2006
10.00 am - 6pm - Emancipation Day Beach Jam at La Pleasure Beach, Accra

b.Wreath laying Ceremonies
Friday 28th July 2006

8.00am - W.E.B. Du Bois Centre & Opening of US Virgin Island Exhibition} - George Padmore Library}
1.00 pm - Kwame Nkrumah Park } Accra
8.00 pm-12 midnight - Wake Keeping at Du Bois Centre, Accra

c.Saturday 29th July 2006

10 am – 5pm - Healing Ceremony for Descendants from the US Virgin Islands

d.Sunday 30th July 2006

10.00 am- 12 noon - Wreath Laying Ceremony at Anomabu (Ekem Ferguson Bust)

1.00pm - 6 pm -Emancipation Day Jam at Brenu Akyem (Near Cape Coast)

e.Monday 31st July 2006

10 am - 2.oo pm -River Pra crossing Re-enactment at Assin Praso (near Cape Coast)

f. Monday 31st July 2006

6.00 pm – 1.00 am - Reverential Night at Cape Coast Castle

g. Tuesday 1st August 2006 11.00 am – 3pm -Emancipation Day Durbar at Assin Manso (near Cape Coast)

-Visit to Donko Nsuo (Slave River) and Reverential Garden
-Wreath Laying on Tombs of Carson & Crystal
h.Friday 4th August 2006
7.00 pm – 1.00 am - Emancipation Day Dinner Dance at Banquet Hall, State House, Accra.


ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE ACCRA
Friday. 21st July
Paga-Nania -Visit to Pikworo Slave Camp (Upper E. Region)

Sat. 22-29th July
Salaga - Week long Kanyigi Emancipation (Northern Region) Festival at Kpembi-Salaga Traditional Area.
Visit to slave wells & sites /Durbar

Wed. 19th – 22nd July
Bono Manso - Visit to slave caves etc. and Durbar (Brong Ahafo Region)

Sat 22nd July 2006
Gwollu - Visit to Slave Trade sites & Durbar (Upper West Region)


MEDIA ACTIVITIES
22nd July -5th Aug, 2006 -
T.V. Programmes on the Diaspora Radio and Press articles.