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2024 Paragliding Festival Ends with a 49% Surge In Attendance
Accra, 3rd April 2024
The 2024 Paragliding Festival wows spectators with a total of 138 Tandem flights and 24 Solo flights with a record-breaking 7,463 attendees this year. This represents a 49% surge in attendance compared to the previous year.
Throughout the festival, 7 skilled tandem pilots hailing from various countries, including the USA, Japan, Peru, Ghana, and Germany, took passengers on unforgettable journeys through the skies. Notably, Ghanaian Solo Pilot Isaac Mensah achieved a personal milestone with his first successful Solo flight, soaring from the Odweanoma Mountain to touch down safely at the Nkawkaw Stadium.
The economic benefits of the Paragliding Festival extend beyond the thrill of flight, significantly impacting the local tourism and hospitality value chain and economy. As the festival continues to attract a growing number of spectators and participants, it creates opportunities for local businesses, from accommodations and food vendors and transportation services. The influx of visitors not only generated revenue for the immediate Kwahu community but also fosters job creation and boosts tourism-related businesses in the region.
The event’s success is evident from the escalating number of spectators, signifying a growing interest in the sport of paragliding. With the flights captivating the audience and creating lasting memories, the 2024 Paragliding Festival emerged as a must-visit attraction, with CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Mr. Akwasi Agyeman, attesting to the enhanced safety measures and overall improved experience at the site.
The Ghana Tourism Authority expresses appreciation to all the stakeholders especially the Kwahu Traditional Council and the Kwahu South, East and West Assemblies.
ISSUED BY: CORPORATE AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
Empowering The Community: Isaac Mensah Soars As Second Homegrown Paragliding Pilot From Kwahu Area
In a remarkable feat for the local community, Isaac Mensah, a proud native of Kwahu from Abetifi, has achieved his first Solo Flight on the prestigious Odweanoma Mountain. This milestone was accomplished during the ongoing 2024 Kwahu Easter Paragliding Festival held in Atibie-Kwahu, Eastern Region of Ghana.
This is an unfolding success story reminiscent of Jonathan Quaye’s trajectory. Jonathan Quaye was the first locally trained Ghanaian pilot who has now joined the team of experienced tandem pilots who fly passengers seeking adventure every Easter. Isaac Mensah’s journey from a humble beginning to becoming a solo paragliding pilot mirrors the inspiring narrative of aspiring talents finding their wings in Kwahu. Just as Jonathan Quaye evolved into an experienced tandem pilot through training in Kwahu, Isaac’s achievement underscores the potential for growth and development within the local paragliding community.
Having received training under experienced mentors,Tandem Paragliding Pilots such as Blake Daniel Pelton, Ed Stein and Chuck Smith, Isaac’s dedication and passion for the sport have been evident since his early days assisting pilots at the Odweanoma Mountain and the Nkawkaw Stadium.
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has played a pivotal role in fostering such local talent and promoting the domestication of paragliding activities. Expressing delight at the emergence of home-grown pilots, the CEO of the GTA, Akwasi Agyeman remarked, “We are thrilled to see locals like Isaac Mensah embracing the sport and honing their skills to contribute to the vibrant paragliding scene in Kwahu. This signifies a significant step towards ensuring that paragliding becomes ingrained in our local culture, enriching both our tourism offerings and community engagement. Since 2017, the GTA has made a lot of investments to improve the infrastructure at Odweanoma and train talent. We say Ayekoo to Isaac who is following in the footsteps of Jonathan, our first locally trained tandem pilot.”
Beyond his achievements in paragliding, Isaac Mensah is a diligent individual who pursued his education at Pentecost Junior High School and Ofori Panyin Senior High School. He also engages in graphic design in Nkawkaw, showcasing his diverse talents and ambitions.
Isaac’s success as a home-grown talent not only highlights his personal triumph but also underscores the importance of nurturing local talent which the Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture have been in the forefront of.
Paragliding in Ghana has a rich history dating back to its introduction in 2005 by the late Jake Obetsebi Lamptey during the annual Kwahu Easter Festival. It has now become a significant event attracting participants and spectators from far and wide. The festival has served as a platform for promoting adventure sports and tourism in the region, with the Odweanoma Mountain becoming a notable site for paragliding enthusiasts.