Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang joined the chiefs and people of Oguaa in a profoundly solemn commemoration honouring victims of the transatlantic slave trade, as part of the spiritual anchor for this year’s Oguaa Fetu Afahye Festival in Cape Coast. The memorial transformed the ancient city into a sanctuary of remembrance, reflection, and cultural reaffirmation.
The Vice President stood alongside traditional rulers, clergy, dignitaries, and descendants of the diaspora in a poignant service designed to acknowledge centuries of pain while celebrating resilience and survival. The gathering was intended to reconnect present generations with ancestral memory and underscore the imperative of preserving historical truth for posterity.
The ceremony featured libation, prayers, and symbolic tributes at sacred grounds associated with the enslavement era, evoking deep emotions among participants. Cultural historians note that such rituals serve as both atonement and education, ensuring that the atrocities of forced bondage remain etched in national consciousness while inspiring commitment to justice and human dignity.
Oguaa Fetu Afahye, celebrated annually by the people of Cape Coast, traditionally marks the harvest season and offers thanksgiving for protection, yet its modern observance increasingly incorporates pan-African solidarity and heritage preservation. The inclusion of a slavery memorial service reflects a conscious effort to situate festivity within historical accountability.
The Vice President’s participation has been widely interpreted as a powerful endorsement of cultural heritage as a pillar of national identity and moral leadership. Observers believe her presence reinforced government’s dedication to honouring the past while charting a future grounded in unity, reconciliation, and respect for ancestral sacrifice.
Source: Oguaa Traditional Council
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Author: Korkor Anumu
