The city of Toronto has officially renamed Yonge-Dundas Square to Sankofa Square, with a colourful opening ceremony held on Saturday, August 23, 2025.
The date coincided with the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, giving the renaming a powerful cultural and historical significance, particularly for Ghana and the African diaspora.
Representing the Government of Ghana and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the ceremony were the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Mrs. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, and the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. James Gyakye Quayson. They were joined by Toronto city officials, members of the Sankofa Square Board, traditional chiefs, Ghanaian community leaders, cultural groups, and children from tourism initiatives.
In her remarks, Hon. Gomashie emphasized the importance of the renaming as a symbolic step in honouring the struggles and resilience of Africans during the transatlantic slave trade, while also serving as a reminder of shared history.
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), represented by its team on behalf of Chief Executive Officer Mrs. Maame Efua Houadjeto, used the occasion to market Ghana as a preferred tourism destination for Canadians, diasporans, and people of African descent.
Central to the event was the promotion of the government’s flagship cultural programme, “The Black Star Experience”, which highlights Ghana’s heritage, arts, and historical role in the African story.
The renaming of Sankofa Square marks a new chapter in Toronto’s efforts to acknowledge African history while strengthening cultural ties between Canada and Ghana.
