Accra, March 4, GNA - The Fourth Ferdinand Ayim Hang and Paragliding Festival scheduled for March 20-25th was launched in Accra on Tuesday with a call on Ghanaians to patronize the event and experience flying like a bird.
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 festival has been named after Ferdinand Ayim, Special Assistant to the Minister of Tourism and Diasporean Relation, who died in a motor accident two years ago while travelling to Atibie, Kwahu, to help prepare the site for the festival.
Mr Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Diasporean Relations, who launched the festival, pointed out that the Paragliding Festival had seen significant improvement in the hospitality and allied industries in Kwahu.
He said: "Last year we had an average attendance of about 500 people daily over the three-day period. All attendees paid gate fees and patronized various vendor services at the take-off sites as well as the landing site that naturally contributed to revenue of the local economy."
The festival would this year attract a fee of 50 GH cedis for adults who want to fly and 30 GH cedis for children, the Deputy Minister announced. There would be a registration desk for all who want to fly to indicate so.
He also said tandem flights, where a professional pilot flies with another 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 and pointed out that members of the general public who wanted to watch the sport as spectators would pay 1 GH cedi 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.
He expressed gratitude to Mr Neser who is in the country to help finalize preparations for this year's festival.
"The pilots will be made up of 15 tandem pilots and 10 solo pilots. This year, we have increased the number of tandem pilots to enable more people to experience the thrill."
Mr Osei-Ameyaw, who is also the Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman, said a tourist's receptive facility, which had been built by the Ministry, would be in full operation and assured visitors of an excellent time during the period of the festival.
"This year the Ministry will ensure the provision of enough rest places for the expected increase in attendees. We will also ensure greater security, parking space and other side attractions like hiking which will be handled by the Ghana Tourism Development Company." He said the Kwahu South District Assembly would also use the opportunity to launch a brochure on other tourism attractions in the District during the festival.
Mr Abeiku Dickson, Special Assistant to the Minister of Tourism and Diasporean Relations, said the government had started a training programme for Ghanaian pilots at Afienya and urged more Ghanaians to develop interest in the sport.
