By: Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
History was made in Toronto, Canada, as the city officially renamed its iconic Yonge Dundas Square to Sankofa Square, in commemoration of the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition.
The renaming follows a two-year consultation process by Toronto’s Recognition Review Community Advisory Committee, which engaged Black and Indigenous leaders, residents, and businesses.
The committee’s decision came after calls to drop the name associated with Henry Dundas, a Scottish politician accused of delaying the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.
The official inaguration was marked by a full-day festival under the theme “Looking Back, Building Forward”. The event featured:
Cultural performances and storytelling
Art installations, paintings, and sculptures
Ghanaian cuisine and Made-in-Ghana products
Sports and community activities
The Ghanaian-Canadian community, led by the Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario (GCAO), showcased the vibrancy of Ghanaian culture and pageantry during the celebration.
Representing President John Dramani Mahama, Ghana’s delegation was led by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, and the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson.
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, emphasized that the renaming was more than symbolic.
“The renaming of Yonge Dundas Square to Sankofa Square is not merely a change of name. It is an act of remembrance, reclamation, and reparations. It is a bold step towards justice and healing not just for the people of Toronto, but for all Africans at home and in the Diaspora.”
She highlighted Ghana’s ongoing Black Star Experience initiative, which follows on from the Year of Return, Beyond the Return, and PANAFEST/Emancipation, all designed to deepen cultural exchanges and strengthen ties with the African diaspora.
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson also underlined the collective nature of healing:
“The story of the African Diaspora is woven into the fabric of Canada and the world. Sankofa teaches us that history must be faced together and healing is collective.”
He further announced the launch of the Sankofa Freedom Movement Project, scheduled to be unveiled in Toronto in 2026.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and City Councillor Chris Moise praised the milestone and reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to supporting the initiative, while also strengthening diplomatic ties with Ghana.
The Toronto City Council had voted 17–6 in favour of the renaming, describing Sankofa Square as a reflection of the city’s commitment to truth, reconciliation, and confronting systemic anti-Black racism.
The name Sankofa, originating from Ghana, literally means “Go back and get it”. The symbol depicted as a bird looking backwards while holding an egg, represents survival, remembrance, and the importance of learning from the past to build a stronger future.
Representing the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs, Kofi Atta Kakra Kusi and Project Officer Sena Sadat Abdulai used the occasion to market Ghana as a premier cultural and tourism destination for Canadians, the diaspora, and global visitors.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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-yearconsultation 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
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: GNA
