Spectacular aerial displays thrill crowds at Kwahu Paragliding Festival opening
Four paragliding pilots thrilled crowds in the Kwahu enclave on Friday with spectacular aerial displays, drawing admiration from holidaymakers and revellers participating in this year’s Easter festivities.
The pilots showcased their flying skills in the skies over Kwahu Atibie and Nkawkaw, within the Kwahu South and Kwahu West municipalities of the Eastern Region.
They included Blake Daniel Pelton and Chuck Smith from the United States, Eduardo Reategui from Peru, and Ghana’s own Jonathan Quaye.
Taking off from the Odweanoma Mountain near Atibie, the pilots soared over several towns, including Obomeng, Mpraeso and Nkwatia, for about 30 minutes before landing at the Nkawkaw Sports Stadium. Their display marked the official start of the four-day paragliding event, which runs from Friday, April 3, to Monday, April 6.
All four pilots are seasoned professionals with years of experience in paragliding.
The aerial performances attracted large crowds, with spectators cheering from take-off through to landing.
At a brief ceremony to formally open the 2026 Kwahu Easter Paragliding Festival at Atibie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, in a speech read on her behalf by the Director of Tourism, Geoffrey Deladem Tamakloe, described the festival as a key driver of economic growth and national development.
She indicated that the government would commit additional resources to expand the event and make it more appealing to both domestic and international tourists.
She said the festival was not only about the thrill of flight but storytelling, identity in showcasing the beauty of Ghana through the lens of adventure tourism.
Mrs Gomashie noted that the economic impact of the festival could not be overstated, citing increased hotel occupancy, thriving food and beverage businesses, improved local transport activity and enhanced international visibility.
"I want to assure everyone, especially those preparing for their flight, that your safety remains our paramount concern, and we adhere strictly to international safety protocols.
"All flights are conducted by certified professional pilots, mandatory safety briefings are in place, approved safety gear is utilised and continues weather monitoring alongside dedicated medical and emergency response teams to ensure a secure and enjoyable experience", she told the gathering.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Mrs Maame Efua Houadjeto, expressed satisfaction with attendance levels and disclosed that feasibility studies were underway to establish an additional paragliding site at Adaklu in the Volta Region to ease pressure on existing facilities.
She further indicated that the Authority is projecting about 15,000 visitors for this year’s festival.
Mrs Houadjeto stressed that the government alone could not fully develop the tourism sector and appealed to private investors to partner efforts aimed at positioning Ghana as a leading tourism destination in Africa and beyond.
Also addressing the gathering, the President of the Ghana Tourism Federation, Mr Seth Ocran, urged the government to extend stronger support to similar initiatives nationwide, including the provision of tax incentives to boost tourism investment.
