Novotel Hotel in Accra will host this year's "Wente California Wine and Food Fest", which is celebrated world-wide each year to introduce the public to the pleasures of wine drinking and good food. The weeklong festival, which is being jointly sponsored by Novotel and Swissair, will be officially launched on 4 April. It will treat the public to good local and continental dishes to be prepared by world-class chefs.

Mr Yao Van Landewijk, Managing Director of Weitnauer, who addressed a press conference, said his company first formed a partnership with the Ghana Tourist Development Company (GTDC) in April 1997 to help boost tourism.

He said the companies, in collaboration with Wente Vineyards, manufacturers of Wente Wine, have now opened a wine bar at Kotoka International Airport. "This step is in line with the tourism gateway programme because the country receives numerous diplomats as well as tourists each year through the airport who need the best of service to make them feel comfortable and welcome."

The company has also invested in the running of duty-free shops where a variety of wines and other items can easily be bought.