Paragliding Not Cancelled - Minister

THE Ferdinard Ayim Memorial Hang and Paragliding event held every Easter on the Kwahu Ridge has not been cancelled.

It will not, be held this year because of inadequate funds, the Minister of Tourism, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, made this known at a press conference in Accra yesterday.

She explained that the event had become expensive since pilots participating in the paragliding are often foreign based and need sponsorship.

Mrs Azumah-Mensah said last year, for instance, 15 out of 25 pilots who participated had to be sponsored.

“The other pilots who flew solo in addition to these 15 were tandem pilots who were provided with accommodation, transportation and meals. Local costs, including ground preparation of the take off site make the organisation of the event very expensive,” she said.

The Minister said last year alone, the money spent on the organisation of the event was a colossal GH¢100,000, which was solely borne by the Ministry in addition to the expenses made by the District Assembly and Pepsi Cola.

Mrs Azumah-Mensah mentioned that companies that submitted proposals could not satisfy expected requirements, adding that this development left the Ministry with little time to effectively plan the organisation of this year’s event.

“As soon as this matter was brought to my attention when I assumed office, I directed that the planning committee should start preparing immediately and seek support from other partners to ensure that the event comes on next year, 2010,” she added and appealed to event organisers to take up the challenge of organising it.

She dismissed the idea that the National Democratic Congress government has stopped this important event.

The annual paragliding event instituted in 2005 is held in Atibie, on the Kwahu scarp, which offer an ideal location for that type of adventure sport.

The Easter period was chosen for the event because it was realised that many Kwahus travel home during the period.

The event was instituted by the Ministry to promote domestic tourism.

The event was named in memory of the late Mr Ayim, special assistant to the then Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations who died in a car crash on his way to Atibie in connection with the holding of the event in 2006.