Hon. Egayapa Mercer Launches 2024 Kwahu Paragliding Festival
The 2024 Easter Paragliding Festival was held at Atibie in Kwahu from 29th March to 1st April 2024. The event has over the years flown thousands of people and given them memorable experiences. Activities for the 2024 edition included tours, hiking and adventure options available for people to explore. Seasoned Pilots from the United States of America, Germany, Peru and Japan were invited to fly hundreds of people during the four-day event.
A Ghanaian pilot, Jonathan Quaye for the first time was able to fly a foreign passenger by encircling towns such as Mpraeso, Atibie, Obomeng, and Abetifi before landing at the Nkawkaw Sports Stadium.
Launching the festival, the Minister-designate for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Hon. Andrew Egyapa Mercer, emphasized the positive impact of the Kwahu Paragliding Festival on the local economy of Atibie Odweanoma in the Eastern Region. Hon. Egyapa Mercer highlighted the festival’s contribution to revenue generation for local tourism, employment opportunities for Kwahu indigenes, and cultural exchange programmes.
According to him, it is a way to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Kwahu people. It serves as a platform to preserve their traditions and showcase them to both domestic and international tourists.
He called on all who would be participating in the paragliding to take the safety precautionary measures given them seriously to avoid casualties.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Seth Kwame Acheampong, re-echoed what was said earlier by his colleague Minister Designate and asked passengers to adhere to all instructions given to them while in the air to avoid disasters.
He, however, expressed confidence in the expertise of the pilots to avert any calamity and hoped for an incident-free paragliding festival.
He said there was a need to help prioritise the activity on the calendar of the country as it has the potential to boost domestic and international tourism.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Mr Akwasi Agyeman praised the successful expansion and rehabilitation of the paragliding site, improved safety measures and enhanced overall experience, making it a must-visit site during Easter.
He pledged continued efforts to strengthen the relationship with stakeholders in the area.
Dignitaries present at the function included the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Mark Okraku Mantey, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr John Yao Agbeko, and Mr Ekow Sampson, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Operations at the Ghana Tourism Authority.
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