Next PANAFEST to be held in July 2007

Accra, Aug. 5, GNA - The International Board of PANAFEST has fixed July 23- August 1 as dates for PANAFEST 2007. It has also agreed that sensitisation and fund raising concerts be held in Nigeria, UK, the USA, C=F4te d'Ivoire, Senegal and in South Africa in 2006 by various PANAFEST Committees. A statement issued in Accra on Friday by Mr Kojo Yankah, Chairman of the PANAFEST Foundation said these were arrived at during the Board's evaluation meeting at Elmina on July 31. It said strategies for ensuring a more deepened PANAFEST 2007 had been drawn up and would be released soon. The Foundation thanked the Government, media, and Ghanaians, especially the chiefs and people of Cape Coast, Elmina and Assin Manso, for their hard work and encouragement to make PANAFEST 2005 a success. "PANAFEST 2005 was by all standards better organized, better attended, and richer in content than the last two previous events," the statement said. "Constraints there have always been, but the determination of volunteers and participants from across the Diaspora to ensure that the spirit of the PANAFEST movement is sustained made all the difference," the statement said. The statement said criticisms and suggestions had been noted in good faith, adding, "we believe subsequent PANAFEST Events will even be bigger". The Foundation commended all foreign and local artistes, particularly those from the USA, Bahamas, Barbados, Nigeria and Jamaica who sought their own sponsorships and participated in the events. "PANAFEST counts its success from the impact the activities, especially the traditional akwaaba ceremony, the wreath laying service in the Elmina Castle, the guided tours in the two Castles in Elmina and Cape Coast, the women's and youth forums, the rites of passage, and the arts and cultural performances made on the participants." 05 Aug. 05