Source: Africa Publicity
The historic town of Paga in Ghana’s Upper East Region is preparing to host families, traditional leaders, dignitaries and visitors from across the country and the diaspora for the 2026 Family Reunion Durbar, a cultural and heritage event designed to reconnect descendants of enslaved Africans with their ancestral roots.
The two-day event, scheduled for July 1-2, 2026, will take place at the historic Pikworo Slave Camp under the theme, “Claiming Our Roots, Restoring Our Bonds.” Activities will include heritage tours, ancestry research sessions, cultural exchanges and a grand durbar celebrating family, culture and history.
A major highlight of this year’s reunion is the visit of Carol Ammons, a State Representative from Illinois in the United States, who is believed to have traced her ancestral lineage to the Paga area through a DNA research project conducted in communities around the slave camp in northern Ghana.
Speaking ahead of the event, President of the Paga Youth Movement and Board Member of the Pikworo Slave Camp, Wenawomeh Aborah, said the reunion is the result of groundbreaking DNA research that linked descendants in the United States to communities in Ghana’s Upper East Region.
“A research team conducted DNA tests around the slave camp communities and discovered descendants in the United States. One of them happens to be a State Representative from Illinois. She now wants to visit her family and reconnect with the people and culture of her ancestors.”
Mr. Aborah explained that the Family Reunion Durbar is one of two major heritage events planned for Paga this year, alongside the annual Panafest and Emancipation celebrations, which continue to play an important role in preserving Ghana’s cultural heritage.
He said the Panafest and Emancipation celebrations have grown steadily over the years through the dedication of the local community and the support of volunteers.
“The first celebration was organized by the community, and later it was recognised nationally and added to the national calendar. Last year’s event was remarkable despite limited resources, and this year we are expecting an even bigger celebration,” he said.
