By Gloria Edinam Atiase
The Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mr. Yussif Issaka Jajah, has urged the Kwahu South Municipal Assembly to place tourism at the core of its development agenda through aggressive promotion and strong public-private sector partnerships involving key stakeholders.
He believes such efforts can significantly contribute to poverty reduction by creating employment opportunities, especially for the youth, women, and the unemployed.
Mr. Jajah made the call at the opening ceremony of the 20th edition of the Kwahu Easter Paragliding Festival, held at Atibie in the Kwahu South District of the Eastern Region.
The annual festival is organised by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, in collaboration with the Ghana Tourist Development Company, among other partners. The event forms part of efforts to promote domestic tourism and plays a pivotal role in the GTA’s vision of positioning Ghana as the leading tourist destination in West Africa.
Chief Executive Officer of the GTA, Mrs. Maame Efua Houadjeto, highlighted the significance of the paragliding festival in Ghana’s tourism development. She stated that the government is committed to expanding the paragliding site to increase revenue generation. She also shared participation statistics from the previous year, showcasing growing interest in the event.
Delivering a speech on behalf of the sector Minister, Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Mr. Jajah emphasized that promoting paragliding in Kwahu is a strategic initiative by the Ministry to diversify Ghana’s tourism offerings. He reiterated the importance of investing in tourism infrastructure to attract more investors and encouraged Municipal and District Assemblies to prioritise Public-Private Partnerships in their planning.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mrs. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, noted that the Kwahu Paragliding Festival has become a key fixture on Ghana’s tourism calendar. She pointed out that the Eastern Region is blessed with abundant natural resources, rich cultural heritage, and renowned hospitality. She therefore encouraged residents to harness these assets to drive community development.
This year’s festival, which ends on Monday, April 21, is expected to attract thousands of adventure enthusiasts and tourists. The 2025 edition features an expanded programme including a health walk, fun games, children’s activities, electronic games, a fun dance competition, a proverb challenge, and traditional outdoor games such as oware, ludu, playing cards, and draughts. Musical performances will also be staged to entertain patrons throughout the event.
