2017 Kwahu Paragliding Festival launched in Accra

GNA – The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, on Monday launched the 2017 Kwahu Paragliding Festival slated for Good Friday, April 14 to Resurrection Sunday, April 16, at Atibea in the Eastern Region.

The yearly event, which is the flagship programme of the Ministry, aimed at enhancing the local economy and promoting domestic tourism.

At the media launch of the 12 edition of the festival, Mr Kwesi Agyemang, the Acting Executive Director of Ghana Tourism Authority, said this year’s Kwahu Paragliding Festival is expected to be fun-filled with other activities aside paragliding.

He said the Ministry, in collaboration with its implementing agencies, would also organise special photo boot, biking expedition, hiking, health walks, beauty pageants, and excursions.

The Ministry would also set up a tourism village where artefacts and souvenirs would be displayed whilst local Ghanaian dishes would be served at the village.

“This year’s festival is expected to attract over 8,000 people, GLICO Insurance would provide a public liability insurance cover for all partners of the event,” he said.

Mr Agyemang said six seasoned international paragliding tandem pilots from the United States of America, Japan, and Amsterdam are expected in the country to fly passengers during the festival.

He said this year’s festival is going to be a stepping point for a bigger platform to be created in Ghana adding that the Ministry was working to upgrade the facility at Atibea to promote regular paragliding events aside the usual Easter event.

Mr Agyemang said the festival was an opportunity to attract both domestic and international tourists and also boost the local economy and urged Ghanaians to participate in the festival and the media to give it a prominent coverage.

He urged all stakeholders and well-meaning Ghanaians to come on board and support the festival in order to help promote and improve domestic tourism.

GNA