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Ferdinand Ayim Paragliding Festival
opens at Atibie
Atibie, March. 23, Ghanadot/GNA- The Minister for Tourism
and Diaspora Relations, Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng has said
that, inspite of the many infrastructural, legal and service
problems that bedevil the tourism industry, it was gradually
assuming its rightful place in the economic development of
the country.
He has assured that his Ministry would not relent on its
efforts in developing all tourist sites to an appreciable
standard to attract more tourists into the country.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng said this at the opening of the Fourth
Ferdinand Ayim Paragliding Festival at Atibie in the Kwahu
South district on Easter Friday.
The paragliding festival was introduced by the Ministry of
Tourism and Diaspora relations in collaboration with the
Tourism Development Board and the Kwahu South District
Assembly in 2005 at Atibie.
It is held during the Easter festivities and has become an
annual festival, which attracts people from all walks of
life.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng said if the tourism industry is well
developed, it would serve as major source of revenue and
urged district assemblies to partner with companies and
individuals to develop their tourist sites to generate more
revenue to undertake development projects.
The Minister of Defence, Mr Albert Kan Dapaah, who was the
special guest of honour, said tourism arrivals saw an
increase of 16 per cent in 2007 over 2006, as inflows in
2007 hit a little under one billion dollars, adding that,
Ghana’s strides however still had a long way to go compared
to other popular destinations in Africa.
He observed that, the diversification of tourism products
would go a long way to enhance the nation’s ability to
attract the appropriate levels of tourists that would propel
the country to reach the height others have reached.
Mr Dapaah said it would also help to reduce poverty, create
jobs and wealth and also accelerate the nations desire to
become a middle income country by 2015.
Mr Dapaah urged tourism operatives to seize the
opportunities provided by government in the tourism sector
to increase their income.
He observed that, the achievements in the tourism industry
over the years was as a result of peace, political
stability, freedom of movement and the economic development
process under the New Patriotic Party(NPP) government and
assured that the security apparatus in the country would put
the necessary security in place to protect tourists, who
visit the country.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Afram-Asiedu said
the region was endowed with immense tourism resources such
as the famous Aburi Botanical Gardens, Bunso Arboretum, the
Atiwa forest, the Volta Lake, the mountains of Akuapim and
Kwahu and the Boti, Begoro and Akaa Waterfalls.
The Regional Minister paid tribute to Mr Jake Obetsebi
Lamptey, former Minister of Tourism, the late Mr Ferdinand
Ayim and the former District Chief Executive for Kwahu
South, Mr Raymond Osafo Djan, through whose initiatives the
paragliding festival came into existence.
This year’s festival attracted 25 pilots from South Africa,
Germany, the United Kingdom, France, United States of
America, Togo and Canada.
The Deputy Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations Mr
Kofi Osei Ameyaw took part in the flight.
GNA
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