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Salaga Slave Market Commissioned for 2024 Emancipation Day Celebration
Monday, July 22, marked the official commissioning and ribbon cutting of the Salaga Slave Market and Heritage Site.
This monumental event brought together government officials, community leaders, and locals to celebrate the reopening of a site that plays a crucial role in the history of the transatlantic slave trade.
Salaga was a significant point on the slave route where captured enslaved Africans were sold and later transported to the coast and trafficked to the Americas.
The Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, highlighted the importance of this site, stating, “The commissioning of the Salaga Slave Market and Heritage Site is more than a mere remembrance of the past; it is an acknowledgment of the role that slavery played in shaping our world today.”
He made these remarks during the commissioning ceremony held on July 22, 2024, in Salaga.
The Salaga Slave Market dates back to the 18th century and served as an essential hub during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade era. It also functioned as an outpost for the movement of slaves along the trans-Saharan routes.
Visiting this heritage site offers a profound opportunity to understand and honour this significant part of African history.
It is a place where the stories of those who were captured and enslaved come to life, offering visitors a chance to reflect on the past and its impact on the present.
The reopening of the Salaga Slave Market & Heritage Site aligns with the “Promote Pan-African Heritage & Innovation” pillar of the Beyond the Return initiative.
This initiative seeks to highlight Ghana’s rich heritage, history, pan-Africanism and also to promote tourism in other regions of Ghana.
“Let us seize this occasion to promote tourism in the Savannah Region and across Ghana,” said Hon. Minister Mercer.
He also said that highlighting unique heritage sites like the Salaga Slave Market and Slave Wells builds on the cross-cultural understanding between different communities, both locally and internationally.
The Minister extended heartfelt appreciation to His Royal Highness, the Kpembe Wura, the District Chief Executive, and all stakeholders involved in the renovation and commissioning of this project.
Their collective efforts have ensured that the Salaga Slave Market stands as a testament to history, ready to educate and inspire future generations.
The Salaga Slave Market & Heritage Site offers a unique and enriching experience, allowing visitors to connect with the past.
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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
