Accra, March 3, GNA - The Ministry of Tourism, will hold the first ever Hang and Paragliding festival on the Kwahu Ridge from March 25 (Good Friday) through March 27 (Easter Sunday) as part of efforts to boost tourism in the country.

The festival, if successful, would be the first ever to be held in West Africa and the third in Africa apart from South Africa and Kenya. It would be an annual event to serve as an alternate sporting activity in the country.

The festival is a sport of flying in light aircrafts.

Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City, at the launch said the Ministry intended to make tourism the primary industry of Kwahu and promote the Kwahu Ridge to become the honeymoon of West Africa, since it was endowed with the perfect resources to attract tourists.

He said about 21 certified international pilots had registered to partake in the programme, while many more were still soliciting to join in to have fun.

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said the Hang and Paragliding sporting event, though foreign to Ghanaians, would provide an alternative to the traditional sporting events and help train professionals to compete at international sporting events.

"In addition, it could be recreational, refreshing and rewarding addition to our calendar and culture", he said.

He entreated the public to visit Kwahu during the Easter festivities to witness the historic event.

He stated that the Ministry was collaborating with the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports, Ministry of Local Government and rural Development, Traditional Authorities and the private sector to ensure a sustained programme and further promote a growth and development opportunity for inhabitants, especially the youth.

The Minister said an insurance cover by the State Insurance Company would be a requisite for all who would want to partake in future events. "For the premier event only certified professionals would be allowed to partake, while we encourage interested private companies to take up the challenge to operate in the industry to train interested people. He thanked the Kwahu District Assembly as well as the traditional authorities, donors and sponsors for their support for the programme.