Paragliding Festival Enters Fourth Year

The Fourth Ferdinand Ayim Hang and Paragliding Festival is scheduled for March 20-25 at Atibie, Kwahu, in the Eastern region. Hang and Paragliding is a sport which is done with the use of light aircraft, and enables humans to fly like birds with the help of the wind. Take-off is usually done at high altitudes. The paragliding festival which had seen significant improvement in the hospitality and allied industries in Kwahu, has been named after Ferdinand Ayim, Special Assistant to the Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations who died in a motor accident two years ago while travelling to Atibie, Kwahu, to help prepare the site for the festival. The festival would this year attract a fee of GH¢50 for adults who want to fly and GH¢30 for children. Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, announced this at a press conference recently. He also said tandem flights, where a professional pilot flies with persons who cannot fly, would be on March 21-24. Mr Osei-Ameyaw said the Ministry together with the Kwahu South and West district assemblies, would register food vendors and souvenir sellers, pointing out that members of the general public who want to watch the sport as spectators would pay GH¢1 as gate fee. He said 25 international hang and paragliding pilots from South Africa, Germany, United States of America, England and France led by Mr Walter Neser would be attending the event. According to him, this year the Ministry would ensure the provision of enough rest places for the expected increase in attendees, and also ensure greater security, parking space and other side attractions like hiking which will be handled by the Ghana Tourism Development Company.