2015 Paragliding Festival launched
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts has launched the 2015 Paragliding Festival which will take place at Kwahu Atibie in the Eastern Region.
The four-day programme is scheduled for April 3 to April 6, 2015 on the Odweanoma Mountain, Atibie, during the Easter festivities.
It is expected that the 10th edition of the festival will create opportunities for dealers in arts and craft to showcase and sell their goods to both local and international tourists who would be part of the celebrations.
The festival, which has been initiated as a national event on the calendar of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), will also offer tourists the opportunity to visit many sites within the region.
During this year’s event, 15 pilots from six countries namely: the United States of America (USA), Peru, France, Japan, Belgium, and Switzerland have confirmed their participation.
Preparations
The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare said adequate preparations had been put in place to ensure that this year’s celebration was a memorable festival.
To this end, she indicated that a planning committee was in place to address all possible challenges in the organisation of the festival.
According to Mrs Ofosu-Adjare, the festival would rekindle investor interest in the region “leading to a positive impact on the economic fortunes of the area.”
She added that major stakeholders, including the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), National Security Secretariat and the Ghana Army had all been duly notified.
The minister said a district tourism office had been inaugurated at Mpraeso, the district capital.
“Visitors will be entertained by continuous live bands featuring the best of Ghanaian highlife tunes.
“There will also be live broadcasts from some partner radio stations from the event grounds to benefit those who may not be able to go,” the minister said.
The Nkawkaw-Atibie road, she said, was in the process of rehabilitation for the convenience of tourists.
According to the minister, the Ghana Police Service had agreed to deploy more personnel to the area to ensure law and order during the festival on the Kwahu Ridge.
