The Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture has promised to invest and promote domestic tourism to sell Ghana to the international world to help boost the economy.
According to the Ministry, the closure of international borders in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and its related negative impact on tourism and the hospitality industry underscore the need to promote domestic tourism and also make it more attractive for Ghanaians to promote local patronage.
The Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture during the commissioning of the Odweanoma Paragliding Field and the unveiling of the bust of the late Jake Obetsebi Lamptey and Ferdinand Ayim promised to make Ghana the number one tourist destination in Africa.
Paragliding in Ghana which is synonymous with the Kwahu Easter Festival has become a major tourist attraction where most people converge on the Kwahu Mountain to celebrate Easter.
With the aim of the government to move the country from a local to a major African tourism player with ambitious plans to increase visitor numbers by fivefold by 2027, the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture and the Ghana Tourism Authority has undertaken major works to improve this paragliding site into a model event ground with the potential of supporting all-year-round recreational activities.
Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture, Madam Barbara Oteng Gyasi who outlined plans to boost domestic tourism also indicated plans to establish a paragliding training school in Kwahu to increase local involvement.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister Samuel Nuertey Ayertey delivering a speech at the ceremony called on communities with identifiable and potential tourist sites to collaborate with the GTA and commit more resources to develop a more responsible, resilient, and friendly tourism sector.
One of the significant highlights of the festival is the paragliding sport which was introduced a few years back by the Late Jake Obetsebi Lamptey the then Minister of Tourism and his personal assistant Ferdinand Ayim of blessed memories.
In recognizing their efforts in the promotion of tourism, the Ministry unveiled a bust of the distinguished gentlemen, the Late Jake Obetsebi Lamptey and Ferdinand Ayim, for their selfless service an act the family of Ferdinand Ayim described as patriotic and encouraging.