HIGH COST OF AIRLINE FARES THREAT TO PANAFEST

By: Ryan Millward

As the upcoming Panafest festival aims to 're-unite the African family from home and abroad', many people of African heritage overseas may not have the money to visit due to a steep increase in airline costs.

The fact that some flights cost well into the  thousands  (US $) will mean that the very message of the festival will be undermined by big corporate flight companies. The purpose of the festival is to celebrate and bring together the African family that has been dispersed around the world due to the slave trades of past ages as well as increased migration.

Rabbi Kohain Halevi

In the official launch of the festival at Elmina on July 13th, the Executive Secretary of the Panafest Foundation told of how the festival in Ghana may be hindered by travel costs. Rabbi Kohain Halevi said: "Increased airfares mean people abroad can't reach here" He added: "Some flights from the US will cost in excess of $2500 to $2800 for an economy seat". With the global world already facing tough times due to various recessions in economies, the cost of these flights will only add to the money worries of would be festival goers.

In the launch there was a gasp of shock when the Rabbi Kohain Halevi read out the figures for flight costs; it certainly is hard to ignore that the reason why there is large groups of people with African heritage abroad is inescapably down to the slave trade. The ambassadors of the Panafest festival will feel that the western countries who took them out of the African continent are now keeping them there as many who look to visit their African heritage will be hindered by the shocking air costs.

Panafest festival has existed in Ghana since 1992 and each year it aims to celebrate, remember and fight challenges of African culture whilst bringing together Africans from around the world; it aims to bring back the integral connections of all Africans that, in the words of the chairman of the meeting Ben Ohene-Areh, have been victims of 'forced transportation'. The chairman added: "It's time now for the African family to come together - from home and abroad. There are millions of African sheep abroad." He continued: "We are here to champion the development of the black man here and on the other sides of the Atlantic."

Some members of the LOC

This is a bold statement that is representative of all the members, associates, contributors and supporters of the Panafest Festival who are quite clearly intently passionate and committed about the message that the festival displays. It was with a sense of anger hidden under an optimistic conviction that Rabbi Kohain Halevi called out for the airlines to get on board instead of exploiting African travellers looking to return to their land of origin.

All in all the high costs that these corporate western companies put on air costs will only give a stark reminder of the oppression of African people by the western world. It really is time that these issues were recognised and the airline companies reacted to this barrier that threatens to stop and hinder the very purpose of the Panafest Festival.

The Panafest festival will start it's first programme on Friday, 22nd July and will continue for ten days where it will finish on August 1st for Emancipation Day. More information is available at www.panafestghana.org