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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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Ghana to locally refine its gold starting October 2025 – Sammy Gyamfi
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, has announced that plans are far advanced for the establishment of a state-owned gold refinery in the country.
Speaking at the 2025 Minerals and Mining Convention, Mr Gyamfi said the refinery will process locally mined gold into bullion instead of exporting it in its raw state.
According to him, it is unacceptable that Ghana, despite being a leading gold producer in Africa, continues to export raw gold known as dore.
He explained that the Gold Board, working with the Bank of Ghana and local refineries, will from October 2025 begin refining gold locally.
He also disclosed that an ultramodern assay laboratory will be built to ensure international standards in testing gold quality.
Mr Gyamfi noted that the refinery will be wholly state-owned and will help Ghana move away from raw mineral exports to value addition.
This, he said, will boost foreign exchange earnings, create jobs, and position Ghana as a hub for gold refining and jewellery production in Africa.
The CEO stressed that the project forms part of government’s strategy to ensure the country benefits fully from its natural resources and to transform the mining sector into a driver of economic growth.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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There is strength in diversity; let’s live in peace – Zanetor Rawlings urges Ghanaians
Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has urged Ghanaians, especially the youth, to value the peace the country enjoys and to see diversity as a source of strength.
Speaking at the National Youth Conference held at the Pentecost Convention Centre under the theme “Igniting Potential; Inspiring Change”, she warned against being lured into conflicts and divisions fueled by reckless statements from politicians, traditional leaders, religious figures, or academics.
According to her, many young people have no idea what it means to live in a country torn apart by war, and therefore must not take Ghana’s peace for granted.
She stressed that the harmony among different ethnic and regional groups should be protected at all costs, since it is peace that allows citizens to gather freely and safely.
Dr. Zanetor said Ghana’s development depends on embracing diversity and working together.
She urged the youth to tap into this strength so that Ghana would continue to shine as the “Black Star” of Africa and serve as an example for other nations.
She expressed appreciation to the participants for attending the conference and asked for God’s blessings on the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
