This year's Pan African Historical and Theatre Festival (PANAFEST) has been launched in Accra.

It will be the 10th of the Biennial event since it began in 1992 and will be under the theme, "Development of the Motherland: The role of people of African descent''.

The celebration is slated for July 21 to August 3 in Accra, Cape Coast, Elmina, Assin Manso and northern Ghana.

Minister for Tourism, Akua Sena Dansua who performed the launch defended the choice of the theme, saying it is to highlight the critical role people of African Descent play in the development of the continent.

PANAFEST is a cultural event held in Ghana every two years for Africans and people of African descent.

For many years, it has been a platform for Africans on the continent and in the Diaspora to share ideas on issues bothering on slavery.

The main highlights of this year's event include wreath laying ceremonies at the Du Bois Centre, George Padmore Library and Kwame Nkrumah mausoleum in Accra, a pilgrimage to slave sites in the Northern Regions, a regatta of Fishermen from Cape Coast to Elmina, musical concert, a Pan African Colloquium and special Women and Youth Day activities.

It will be climaxed with a carnival in Cape Coast.