Panafest Festival - Anansi Travel

July 23 to August 10, 2005

Travelers will fly into Accra, Ghana. From there we will participate in the Panafest Festival in Cape Coast, Elmina, and travel to Kumasi.

For more complete information about the 2005 Panafest Celebration Festival, please go to "http://www.panafest.org".

There will be a informational meeting in Bellingham, Washington, USA, on March 22 and March 29, at 6:30 p.m. in the Co-op Connections building on Forest Street.

Anansi Schedule Panafest, 2005

July 23 (Saturday): Arrive in Accra where you will be met by your Anansi guide and taken to your Cape Coast hotel.

July 24 (Sunday): CARNIVAL DAY, Colorful procession of floats, Brass Band, Masqueraders, Asafo companies and youth groups through the principal streets of Cape Coast to Adisadel College Park (center for National Culture) the venue of the PANAFEST Village and Expo / Trade Fair, OPENING OF PANAFEST EXPO / TRADE FAIR with international exhibitors, entrepreneurs, and artisans.

July 25 (Monday):Historical Sites in the Central Region.

July 26 (Tuesday): THE RETURN JOURNEY/ AKWAABA CEREMONY, Historic boat (canoe) ride from Cape Coast Castle/Dungeon "Door of Return" to Elmina Castle to be received by Traditional Leaders and Elders for a welcome home reception at the forecourt of the Elmina Castle, Continuation of scheduled Tours to Historical Sites in the Central Region.

July 27 (Wednesday): OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY OF PANAFEST 2005, 10:00 am Colorful Ceremony of International Dignitaries and invited guests and participating artists in the courtyard of Cape Castle and Dungeons, Evening Drama Performances at the Centre for National Cultures (CNC), Musical and other performances at Adisadel Park (PANAFEST VILLAGE).

July 28 (Thursday): COLLOQUIUM: WOMEN'S DAY HIV /AIDS, Forum on Women's Issues and HIV / AIDS at CNC, Evening Drama Performance at CNC, Musical and other performances at Adisadel Park (PANAFEST VILLAGE)

July 29 (Friday): YOUTH DAY / COLLOQUIUM, Friday Forum on youth Issues and HIV / AIDS, Friday Evening Drama, Music and Other Performances at CNC & Adisadel Park.

July 30 (Saturday): GRAND DURBAR OF CHIEFS, QUEENMOTHERS AND ELDERS,10:00 am ~ Royal Pageant and Display of Traditional Rulers in a Grand Procession through the principal streets of Cape Coast to Victoria Park.,12:00 Noon ~ Official Panafest Programme at Victoria Park with assembled Royals, Dignitaries, Artists and Guests.

July 31 (Sunday): RITES OF PASSAGE/NAMING CEREMONY in EGUAFO, 9:00 am ~ This is a special packaged program for those brothers and sisters from the Diaspora who wish to have their youth undergo a special ceremony as a rites of passage, naming ceremony and or Traditional marriage vows. This will be performed by a pre-arrangement request. 8:00 pm to Midnight: REVERENTIAL EVENING ~ This solemn ceremony on the eve of Emancipation Day begins with a candle light procession through the principal streets of Cape Coast to Cape Castle courtyard which will feature an evening of commemorating our ancestors and end with a midnight Proclamation of Emancipation Day.

August 1 (Monday): EMANCIPATION DAY ~ AT ASSIN MANSO, 9:00 am ~ The 8th Annual Celebration and climax of this year's programme will be held with a Durbar at Assin Manso marking the official observance of Emancipation Day 2005 1st August: Monday CLOSING CEREMONIES AND AWARDS NIGHT - CAPE COAST: ~ The Official Closing Ceremony of PANAFEST 2005 will be a Dinner Dance and Awards Night held at the Center for National Culture.

Anansi Travel is offering a trip to Kumasi and on up north to Mole Park for those Panafest visitors who would like to extend their stay in West Africa until August 10.

Requirements:

Passport and visa are required. Tourist visa are required for stay up to 30 days (extendible). Visa requires 1 application form, 4 photos, photocopy of onward/return ticket, and yellow fever immunization. Single-entry visa requires $20 fee, multiple-entry $50 fee (payment by money order only - payable to Embassy of Ghana. Allow 3 working days for processing. Include prepaid envelope for return of passport by overnight mail. Departure tax $15 paid at airport. For additional information contact:

Embassy of Ghana

3512 International Drive NW, Washington DC 20008
202.686.4520 or Consulate General, 19 East 47th St.,
New York, NY 10017 212.832.1300

Telephone: (202) 686-4520
E-mail: hagan@cais.com
URL: http://www.ghana-embassy.org/