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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.
Photos: Odweanoma Paragliding Field Commissioned, Jake & Ferdinand Busts Unveiled
A ceremony has been held under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and its agencies at the Odweanoma Paragliding field to commission the upgraded paragliding field at Kwahu Atibie in the Eastern Region. The Paragliding Field has been improved into a model event ground suitable for any recreational activity of any kind. These include the construction of a new entrance post, fencing of the event grounds, paving of the entire area, construction of an enclosed VIP catering area, resurfacing of viewing partition among others.
The busts of two noblemen who supported immensely in the development and growth of the sport in Ghana, Hon. Jake Otanka Obetsebi- Lamptey and Mr. Ferdinand Ayim, his Special Assistant, was also unveiled in honour of their hard work, dedication and visionary leadership in the development of Paragliding in Ghana.
Furthermore, the Kwahu Professional Network (KPN) in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and its allied agencies launched the Second edition of “Yɛnkɔ” Kwahu, under the theme; Our home, Our strength, Our heritage as part of the activities to promote domestic tourism.
The event saw the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Mrs. Barbara Oteng- Gyasi, and her able deputy Minister, Alhaji Dr. Ziblim Barri Iddi, the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Samuel Aryertey and the Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism, Mr. John Yaw Agbeko, the Board of Directors of GTA, led by Madam Adelaide Ahwireng and the CEO of GTA, Mr. Akwasi Agyeman. Other dignitaries include the DCE’s for Kwahu West and East, Hon. Emmanuel Atta Ofori Snr, and Hon. Isaac Agyepong, other heads of agencies of the Ministry of Tourism, and their staff.
The Traditional Authorities were led by the Mpraesohene and Benkumhene of Kwahuman, Nana Ampadu Daduam II, and Barima Kwame Asante Bediade II, Kwahuman Gyasehene and Atibiehene as well as the family of Mr. Ferdinand Ayim.
20 Photos That Tell The Ghana Paragliding Development Story
“The paragliding festival has become one of the main pillars of the celebration of Easter in Kwahu. Over the past 15 years, the Odweanoma mountain has been home to several exciting paragliding flights. Since 2017, when we expanded the take off point to allow up to four take-offs at a time, the flights per day during Easter has increased from an average of twenty (20) to sixty (60). The infrastructural additions to the site is part of a plan to make the Kwahu Ridge enclave an all-year-round tourism destination” – Akwasi Agyeman (CEO-GTA)
Here is how Paragliding started and how we have created a world-class site for adventure sports tourism thanks to the late Hon. Jake Otanka Obetsebi Lamptey his Special Assistant Ferdinand Ayim, also of blessed memory who together with many others led by lead Pilot Walter Nesser helped kick-start the festival to coincide with the Kwahu Easter festivities.
Last Major Hurdle For Take-Off…
In April 2005, the first Paragliding Festival was launched by the late former Vice President, his Excellency Alhaji Aliu Mahama, to coincide with the Kwahu Easter festivities.
The Opening Ceremony…
The chiefs were there to offer libation as well as political heads and tourism officials
The First Flights…
After the ceremonies and speeches, things went underway.
First Cameraman To Brave The Odds…
The Inquisitive Public Applauded…
Others Tried To View From The Corners without any safe and secure place to stand…
Then the first view from the sky (2005) dropped
We Invited More Pilots (6) in 2006 and grassed the take-off site
We provided a viewing/seating platform on both sides for Viewing Public in 2010
We then took steps to start training Ghanaian Pilots…
We then focused on more public centered facilities from 2017
Expanded/Re-grassed take-off to take 4 tandem-gliders for launch
Construction of Permanent Viewing and Seating Pavillion
Provision of a modern washroom facility
Food court for catering services
New VIP lounge
A paved and gated compound
Cheers to our next big move…
Join us as we honour and remember many who contributed to this story…
2020 May have been dark but…
Conquer your fear, Be a Hero and Join us in 2021
#GhanaParagliding #FunNfly
2020 Paragliding Festival Launched – Novel Activities Promised For 13th Edition
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has launched this year’s Paragliding Festival at Mpraeso-Kwahu in the Eastern Region. The annual Paragliding Festival dubbed, “Fun and Fly” comes on around the Easter period and this year it is from April 10 -13.
Registration: Click Here
The 2020 edition will be the 13th since its inception in 2005. At the launch at the Mpraeso Chief’s Palace today, Deputy CEO in Charge of Operations at the Ghana Tourism Authority, Ekow Sampson said this year will feature novel additions which promise to spice up the Festival.
“This year’s paragliding will have side attractions like health and fitness walk, spin and win and a tour by the Kwahu Tourism Initiative to the attraction sites in Kwahu. The Paragliding event is an aviation sport which can be enjoyed by all groups of people, that’s the youth and adults,” he said.
Sampson later in an interaction with the media added that as part of the crystal jubilee celebration of the event, “we want to have a special activity to climax the 15 years anniversary of the Paragliding Festival. We also have a developed site which we also want to inaugurate; Abetifi Stone Age Park which is a cave which has been there for about 15,000 years and shows where the first people who came to Kwahu lived.”
A sub-Chief of the Mpraeso Traditional Council, Nana Anum, who spoke of the Chief of Mpraeso, Nana Ampadu Dadwiam II, Mpraesohene, said they were grateful for the continued support they enjoy each year during the Festival from the GTA and their partners. He urged them to ensure the safety and security of all those who will be participating in the festivities.
GTA Officials and the Media after the launch went to the take-off site to inspect ongoing works commissioned to put the place in shape in readiness for the Festival.
Paragliding Festival 2020 is under the theme “Soaring Beyond the Return.”
Registration is currently ongoing at visitghana.com
By: Samuel Obeng Appah
Source: Voyages Afriq