Eastern Region: Paragliding festival takes off in Atibie

This year’s paragliding festival has been launched at the Odweanoma mountains in Kwahu Atibie in the Eastern Region.

The ministry of tourism introduced paragliding in Ghana in 2005 during the late Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey’s tenure as minister of the sector. This coincided with the Easter festivities on the Odweanoma mountains. Both local and international tourists patronise the aviation sport during the Easter season.

Seven pilots, including Ghanaians, are participating in this year’s event.

The deputy minister of tourism, arts and culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey, launched this year’s event. He commended Obetsebe-Lamptey for his foresight and vision.

Okraku-Mantey said Ghana achieved its quest at becoming the preferred tourism destination in West Africa by 2026 ahead of schedule in 2022.

He stated that the paragliding festival plays a major role in domestic and international tourism. The minister promised government’s commitment to the sector.

He promised that the deplorable roads that lead to the mountain will be tarred very soon.

The chief executive officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman, said the Kwahu Easter and the paragliding event have become an exhilarating experience that should not be missed by adventure seekers.

Agyeman launched the “Experience Ghana, Share Ghana” campaign which aims to improve local tourism.

Ghana has adopted the paragliding festival as an event on its tourism calendar.