The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) says all is set for the 2022 Kwahu Easter Paragliding Festival.
The Festival, according to the Deputy Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kofi Atta Kakra Kusi, kicked off after a courtesy call on the Kwahu Traditional Council and a grand opening at the Odweanoma Mountains, Atibie, Kwahu.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, he said the five-day festival would include activities not limited to paragliding including Hot Air Balloon, the Kwahu Marathon, a food Bazaar, Kwahu Dwaso, Pool Parties, Musical Concerts, Church Service, footbal matches, live lottery, Kwahu Carnivals, Explore Kwahu, Kwahu Tent Camp, Rumble in the Mountains among others.
He said to bring more structures to the activities, the GTA had teamed up with the Kwahu Traditional Authority, the Kwahu East, West and South Assemblies as well as other key stakeholders, including the private sector to form a Local Organizing Committee to ensure visitor experience was enhanced and health and safety consideration were mainstreamed.
Mr Kusi noted that, in all, a total of 12 pilots, including one Ghanaian, would be available to fly patrons from the Odweanoma Mountains to the Nkawkaw park throughout the period, at a fee of GHc 550.00 inclusive of an Antigen Test for passengers before they would be allowed to fly.
He assured patrons that the Kwahu Easter Guide, which seeks to provide information about the various events and activities and other vital information about Kwahu Easter, had been published and would be made available to them on arrival.
Mr Emmanuel Frimpong, Executive Secretary, Ghana Tourism Federation, said this year’s festival was going to be a different experience for patrons because, government had created an enabling environment for the private sector to be fully involved in the celebrations.
He said “tour operators will be organising tours and other events, car rentals will also be providing car rental services, hotels will be providing accommodation services, while restaurants will provide enough food for patrons. Tour guides will also be there to guide patrons, engage them and lead them to the traditional authorities among others.”
He said as part of their contribution as the private sector, they had engaged the GTA to see how best to support by adjusting the prices of their services to attract more patrons to the festival.
“Normally around this time, charges for services are extremely high, so we have advised our members to try and adjust some of their prices so that together we help promote domestic tourism for people to also go and have fun.”
Mr Frimpong said beyond the festival, the private sector was also looking forward to making the Kwahu enclave a tourism hub, where series of activities would be organised throughout the year, probably three of four times within a year.
He urged patrons to go to the festival with the mind set of going to have fun, comport themselves, stay away from all vices and coming back with some renewed energy to continue their daily routines, adding that security would also be tight during the celebrations.
“We look forward to a successful festival, an incident free one and wish all a happy Easter in advance. Pray that as we have seen the sector bouncing back, the Easter will bring back the enthusiasm, the desire and joy of travelling around and promoting domestic tourism.”
Source: Ghana News Agency
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