PANAFEST to create forum for seeking reparation for Africa

This year's edition of the Pan-African-Historical-Theatre-Festival, PANAFEST 2003, would be used to press for reparation for Africa.

The Executive Director of the PANAFEST Foundation, Kohain Halevi Rabbi, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview at Cape Coast that the "pillage, plunder and exploitation meted out to Africans by their colonial masters are evidence of the injustices that the continent suffered."

PANAFEST 2003, slated for July 23 to August 5, is under the theme: "Uniting the African family-Dialogue on African Tradition and Culture in the 21st century globalization".

He said Africa had been marginalized by the Western countries for far too long and was of the opinion that it would be a step in the right direction for Africans to ask for compensation to enable them to rebuild the continent.

''The structure that suffered most during the colonial era was Africa's indigenous governing system which was replaced by colonial systems of governing'', he said.

Kohain Rabbi said to strengthen the bid for reparation the Foundation had invited various groups with similar sentiments in the United Kingdom (UK), United States (US) and the Caribbean to dialogue on the issue and formulate a formidable strategy towards achieving the goal.

"The time has come for Africa to adopt one approach to build a strong collective reparation movement that would have one voice for Africans.''

Kohain Rabbi called on all Ghanaians, particularly those resident in Cape Coast and Elmina, the main venues for the festival, to fully participate to ensure its success.

On sponsorship, he said a number of organizations and companies including Ghana Breweries Limited (GBL), GHACEM, Ministry of Tourism and the Elmina JAVA Museum have declared their readiness to help finance the festival.