The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has begun the Fund and Fly ‘Yenko Kwahu’ Corporate Paragliding Festival at Odweanoma in the Kwahu South Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The Corporate Paragliding Festival has returned after a two-year break due to poor weather conditions.
The initiative is to promote domestic tourism and augment the Annual Kwahu Easter Paragliding Festival, which has become a preferred adventure tourism in the country.
So far, 56 persons have registered for this year’s corporate paragliding.
Five pilots including a Ghanaian would fly prospective tourists for the four days – from Thursday, September 21 to Sunday, September 24, 2023.
Other activities earmarked for the event include launch of Ghana Cinema Week, Yenko Kwahu, Taste of Kwahu, Health Walk, King of the Mountains Cycling Competition, Church Service and Music Conversation Summit.
At the official opening ceremony on Thursday, September 21, Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of General Services of GTA Ben Anane Nsia was hopeful more tourists will enjoy the sports festival.
“We know these sports have more people interested in it. It’s growing, we want to give as many people as possible opportunities to enjoy Paragliding.
“I am hopeful the Nkawkaw Sports Ministry will fix the sports stadium while the Roads Ministry fixes the deteriorating Odweanoma road under the 50-km tourism roads promised,” he pleaded.
The Kwahu West Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Yaw Owusu Addo, emphasised the need for the Roads Ministry to improve the Odweanoma roads to encourage more tourists to the tourism destination.
The Odweanoma Tourism Destination, according to authorities, impacts on the local economy of Municipal and District Assembly in the Kwahu enclave.
Government is enjoined by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to devise means to create jobs in the tourism sector.
The SDG target 8.9 requires government to, by 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.
The sector is currently the country’s third contributor to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
By Yvonne Neequaye|3news.com|Ghana