Paragliding festival would pay tribute to Freddy

Accra, April 12, GNA - Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City, said on Wednesday this year's Hang and Paragliding festival would come off as scheduled to pay tribute to Mr. Ferdinand Ayim, his Special Assistant, who died while on duty to prepare the site for the event.

He said: "I am sure Freddy would wish that the event comes on to fulfil his desires of making tourism industry in Ghana attract over a million tourists by the year 2007."

The Second Kasapa Ghana Hang and Paragliding Festival will take place at Atibie and Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region during the Easter from April 14 to April 17 2006.

Paragliding is a sport patronized by people interested in flying. Competitors use a light aircraft and the game is said to be one of the safest forms of aviation

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey made the remark when the tourism press corps paid a courtesy on him to express their condolences and said the formation of the corps was Freddy's idea to popularise the tourism industry through the media.

He said Mr Ayim's death was a big blow to him, as he would not find any person who could perform multiple duties at the same time as Freddy did.

"There can never be a replacement for him," he added.

"Not only did he bring out good ideas in the interest of the Tourism industry but he also worked hard to achieve what he aims at," the Minister said and referred to the recent eclipse viewing, which Freddy worked hard even without budgetary allocation to make the event a success.

Mr Ferdinand Ayim died in motor accident on the Accra - Kumasi Highway near Osino on Thursday April 6, 2006.

He left behind Mrs Tina Ayim and four children, two boys and two girls.