Akyem Oda, April 10, GNA- The Akyem Kotoku Citizens Union under the auspices of the Ghana Tourist Board on Monday organised the third in the series of its Easter food festival, as part of activities to commemorate Ghana's 50th Independence Anniversary, at Akyem Oda in the Eastern Region.

The event, which was under the theme: "Still Promoting Our Community Through Tourism", saw different types of Ghanaian dishes on display.

In an address, Mr Edwin Owusu-Mensah, the Deputy Executive Director in charge of Operations, at Ghana Tourist Board, expressed optimism that the festival would help to harness potentials of local food vendors towards the promotion of tourism and fostering unity among people from all walks of life.

He commended the Union for advertising Ghanaian dishes as a way of promoting domestic tourism.

Mr Owusu-Mensah reminded Ghanaians that tourism was not just about travelling to see interesting sites but also by appreciating exotic foods, produce and cultural practices of the people. He said, "For instance, local crafts, traditional foods, as well as the attitude of the people constitute tourism and so the ordinary person is also involved in tourism".

Dr Grace Bediako, president of the union, in an address read on her behalf, said by organising the festival, the group sought to popularise local dishes and to ensure that the many scarce ones were kept on the dinning tables and on the food-sellers tables. Ohenenana Yaw Victor, secretary of the Union, said the food festival, which was aimed at fostering unity, peace and development in the area could assist in promoting the local economy. .