African-Americans trace slave routes to herald PANAFEST

Salaga (NR), July 24, GNA - About 50 African-Americans in the Diaspora, including tour operators from Ghana on Thursday begun tracing the routes of the slave trade from Salaga in the East Gonja District to herald the Pan-African Festival (PANAFEST).

The tourists, who left Tamale around 0730 hours with smiling faces grieved when they were taken through the sites and briefed about the atrocities their ancestors suffered in the hands of the slave traders. Mr. Mahama Issah, the tour narrator, took the tourists round the Slave Wells and Baths, Rafin Angulu, meaning "vulture land" - a place for dumping dead slaves unburied - the slave market as well as "Slave master's well."

Most of the tourists shed tears, especially at the slave warehouse. Dr. Robin Jones told the GNA at the 'Rafin Angulu' that "God will be discriminating if the slave traders have to dwell in the same place after death with some of the slaves."

She said she had no regrets coming back to trace her route since it would prove to her ancestors that she had been able to withstand the ordeals of the ancestors and survived.

''God will rest my ancestors in perfect peace.''

The tourists later converged at the forecourt of Kpembewura where they were formally welcomed and treated to traditional music and dance and some joined in the dance.

Alhaji Braimah Haruna, Kpembewura, told the tourists that they should not always come home with bare hands but they should come with souvenirs to prove that they really grieve for their ancestors.

He said Kpembe skin would give land free of charge to any tourist or investor who would bring development to the area to attract more tourists and advised them to spread the message to their brethren to also visit home.

Mr Bismark Haruna, the District Chief Executive for East Gonja, appealed to the tourists to forgive the slave traders. "There is no point crying over spilt milk. What is important now is to forget the past and think about possible ways of putting the pieces together to develop Africa," he said.

Mr Haruna called on the African-Americans in the Diaspora to help to develop Africa.

Professor James Small, the leader of the group, said their desire to trace their route would create wealth to develop Africa and that they were learning to be Africans again and would not hesitate to help develop Africa.

He said the Pilgrimage would help to build a formidable future for African people.

"There are about 190 million people across the Atlantic Ocean and they are ready to help Africans."

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency later some of the tourists expressed disgust at the way human ''beings treated fellow human beings.'' Miss Donna L. Wright said she had developed hatred for whites and that she was glad she had come to see things for herself.

Miss Sharon Pringle described the slave trade as barbarous and she would encourage others to come and invest in Africa.