Kotini Resort, a tourism facility at Likpe, in the Hohoe Municipality, has started a paragliding event to make the Municipal area a ‘one-stop’ tourism destination.
The Municipal area is home to the Wli Water Falls – said to be the tallest in Ghana, high mountains, creeks, caves and forest products.
The Likpe-Todome Christmas Paragliding Festival brings to two, such events in the country with the other at Kwahu Atibie, in the Eastern Region, known for its Easter Paragliding Festivals.
The Likpe Paragliding is thus expected to offer an excellent alternative to revelers and tourists during Christmas in the ‘dramatic landscape’.
Hundreds of local and foreign tourists thronged the resort despite the intimidating undulating nature of the road, to witness and enjoy the maiden event on Friday, December, 26.
Just a few minutes after the official opening, more than 20 tourists, mainly from Germany and the United States, registered and enjoyed the 800-metre above Sea level flight and landed safely.
Milind Nadkarni, an Indian, after his flight said, “This is amazing. It is something everyone should experience in a lifetime, it is very safe. The Pilot is very experienced.”
An American Volunteer also said she enjoyed the wind speed and the altitude.
Though many locals could not raise the GH¢200 to enjoy the flight, they appeared satisfied as they cheered the few, who flew, with some moving between the ancestral caves of Likpe and the paragliding site.
Madam Helen Ntoso, Volta Regional Minister, who appeared astounded by the initiative, expressed the hope that the Likpe Paragliding would soon become an international event.
She remarked: “This is great. With three different landing sites for a start, I’m confident this will soon be a major international event”.
Madam Ntoso described the Region as tourist destination and tasked Municipal and District Chief Executives to identify tourist sites and develop them to attract investors.
Lt. Col. Larry Gbevlo-Larttey (Rtd), a Member of the Local Organising Committee, expressed satisfaction about the high patronage and assured the tourists of their safety.
Mr Henry Sean, Coordinator of the event, told the Ghana News Agency that rescue teams, made up of military-men, were based at the take-off and landing zones.
Source: GNA