The city of Toronto, Canada, witnessed a historic cultural milestone on Saturday when the “Sankofa Square,” formerly known as Yonge-Dundas Square, was formerly inaugurated.
Represented by the image of a bird facing forward while looking backward to retrieve an egg, Sankofa embodies the values of memory, survival, reclamation, and the preservation of heritage.
The renaming ceremony coincided with the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition and was marked by vibrant celebrations on the theme: “Looking Back, Building Forward.”
A release issued to the Ghana News Agency on Monday in Accra said the renaming of the iconic square in Toronto’s downtown core was the outcome of a two-year consultation process led by the city’s Recognition Review Community Advisory Committee.
The committee, made up of black and indigenous leaders, residents, and local business owners, reached a consensus to rename the square due to the controversial legacy of its namesake, Henry Dundas, a Scottish politician known for his role in delaying the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.
The new name, Sankofa, originated from Ghana and symbolised the act of returning to the past to retrieve knowledge and lessons for the future, the release said.
The official launch featured a full day of festivities including cultural performances, storytelling, sports, traditional music and dance, art exhibitions, Ghanaian cuisine, and the sale of Made-in-Ghana products.
The Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario (GCAO) led the Ghanaian community in showcasing the country’s rich tapestry of culture and identity.
Ghana’s delegation was led by Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, James Gyakye Quayson, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, representing the President John Dramani Mahama.
Madam Gomashies, in her keynote address, said the renaming was not merely a change of name, but an act of remembrance, reclamation, and reparations.
She emphasised the symbolic importance of Sankofa Square as a bold step towards justice and healing for Africans both on the Continent and in the Diaspora.
“By choosing Sankofa, the city of Toronto affirms the importance of African heritage in the global struggle for freedom and justice and acknowledges the centrality of memory in the journey towards liberation,” Madam Gomashie stated.
She highlighted the Government’s flagship cultural initiative, the “Black Star Experience”, which builds on past initiatives such as PANAFEST, the “Year of Return”, and “Beyond the Return”.
“The Black Star Experience is a call for total cultural immersion, and the Sankofa Square should become a living space of dialogue, cultural exchange, education, and empowerment,” she said.
Quayson, on his part, reiterated the interconnected histories of African and white diasporas, calling for unity in remembrance and healing.
He announced the forthcoming Sankofa Freedom Movement Project, set to be launched in Toronto in 2026, and expressed profound appreciation to the Canadian Government, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, and City Councilor Chris Moise for their support and partnership.
Mayor Chow and Councilor Moise expressed their commitment to maintaining strong diplomatic and cultural ties between Canada and Ghana.
They reaffirmed Toronto’s dedication to confronting anti-Black racism, acknowledging historical injustices, and fostering a more inclusive and equitable city.
Toronto City Council voted 17 – 6 in favour of the renaming, marking a transformative step in Canada’s ongoing journey of truth, reconciliation, and racial justice.
Kofi Atta Kakra Kusi, Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), and Sena Sadat Abdulai, Project Officer, representing the GTA, used the platform to promote Ghana as a premier tourism and cultural destination for Canadians, diasporans, and international visitors.
The celebration of Sankofa Square stands as a testament to the enduring power of cultural identity, remembrance, and international solidarity in shaping a more just and inclusive future.
