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Unveiling untold stories: Exhibition sheds light on trans-atlantic slave trade legacies
Slavery, a haunting chapter of history, has long been rec¬ognised as an outmoded custom in today’s world.
However, the intricate details of how it unfolded in Ghana is often overshadowed by a repetitive nar¬rative involving European countries’ trade with African nations.
To rekindle awareness of this forgotten past, the “Danmarks frie forskningfond,” an independent research fund in Denmark, has or¬chestrated an exhibition that delves into the history of slavery between Africa and the Caribbean—specifi¬cally the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.
At the inauguration of the event, Professor Mads Anders Bagges¬gaad articulated the exhibition’s purpose, emphasising its role in fostering collaboration between local researchers and international partners.
Dubbed “Authoring Slavery: Blind Spots,” the exhibition aims to cast a spotlight on overlooked aspects of the transatlantic slave trade.
As the exhibit unfolded, guests were moved by a recorded poem penned by Kofi Anyidoho.
The poem pays tribute to the souls lost during the brutal slave trade, honouring their tireless struggle to restore Africa’s dignity in the 20th century.
A Post-Doctoral Research Fellow from the University of Hull in the United Kingdom, Dr. Cassandra Gooptar took the stage to explore the enduring legacies of enslave¬ment and restorative justice.
She discussed the socio-political dimensions of the trans-atlantic slave trade, emphasising its lasting impact on contemporary society.
Dr. Gooptar highlighted the rele¬vance of modern day slavery, par¬ticularly in societies like the United Kingdom, where racial divisions persist and education often omits critical historical events.
The exhibition’s significance ex¬tended to its exploration of critical blind spots in the study of slavery.
Dr. Isabel Robinson underscored the importance of raising the profile of black history and addressing overlooked issues related to slavery.
Meanwhile, Dr. Emmanuel Sab¬oro’s presentation delved into the ethno-racial differences and colo¬nial effects that continue to shape Ghana.
He shed light on the term ‘Donkor’ which signifies captivity in northern Ghana, and discussed how ethnicity and skin color continue to influence identity perceptions.
The “Authoring Slavery: Blind Spots” exhibition successfully re¬vitalised the discourse around the trans-atlantic slave trade, shed¬ding light on hidden narratives and inspiring conversations about the enduring impact of historical injus¬tice on today’s world.
By George Obeng Osei
The Ghana Tourism Development Company, GTDC, under the leadership of Prof.Kobby Mensah has launched GTDC Campus Tourism Office at the University of Ghana.
The initiative aims to promote educational and domestic tourism by providing structured campus tour experiences showcasing key heritage sites, including the Archaeology Museum and the School of Performing Arts.
It will also offer students their first travel experience across the continent and inculcate in them love to visit Ghana’s heritage sites.
Addressing the gathering at the launch yesterday, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, described tourism as a vehicle for education and heritage preservation, stressing that the sector must inspire citizens to value and protect national culture for future generations.
The minister highlighted tourism’s connection to disciplines such as history, the arts, economics and environmental science.
The minister further noted that the private sector is the engine of tourism economy, adding that the engines require fuel, which is talents.” by investing in these young people today, you are securing the quality, the innovation and competitiveness of our own industry for tomorrow.
She added that the establishment of the office represents a deliberate investment in the intellectual capital of the country.
The GTDC boss, Prof.Kobby Mensah, said,”at GTDC, we believe that if our tourism has to be sustainable, we have to promote domestic tourism and a very big part of it is getting students to appreciate tourism and helping them to organise tours.”
He added that the University of Ghana itself is a huge heritage site which must be explored.
Prof.Kobby Mensah noted that the initiative, which is one of many to be established across the country, is a joint partnership between GTDC and University of Ghana.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof.Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, said the University is a custodian of heritage which goes beyond the structures and welcomed the establishment of the first Campus Tourism Office.
She was optimistic that the office would be put to good use to achieve the intended purpose.
The launch brought together Stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to nurturing future tourism and hospitality professionals.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Ghana has officially accepted an invitation to serve as Guest Country at Burkina Faso’s 22nd National Culture Week in Bobo-Dioulasso from April 22 to May 2, 2026.
The invitation was extended by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo, accompanied by the Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Ghana, H.E. David Kabré.
Receiving the delegation, Abla Dzifa Gomashie reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to deepening cultural diplomacy and strengthening historic ties between the two nations.
She noted that the festival will create opportunities for young creatives, expand exhibition platforms and promote commercial exchange within the creative sector.
The event will feature cultural performances, a community village and gastronomy fair, an arts market, literary engagements, and a craft and trade fair.
Ghana’s participation is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations between John Dramani Mahama and Ibrahim Traoré, while fostering collaboration within the creative ecosystems of both countries.
