Accra, March 16, GNA - The Third Hang and Paragliding Festival which comes off from April 5 to 7 at Atibie in the Eastern Region, would be named after the late Ferdinand Ayim, Special Assistant to the Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations.

Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, sector Minister announced at the press launch of this year's that the festival would be called 93Pepsi - Ferdinand Ayim - Atibie Paragliding Festival."

He said the naming of the event after Mr Ayim followed his tragic death when he was on his way last year to Atibie to prepare the grounds for the smooth take-off of the festival.

Hang and Paragliding is an air sport powered by light ultra modern aircraft that allows humans to fly like a bird.

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey announced that this year's event would attract professional gliders from many parts of the world, including the United Kingdom, United States of America, France, Togo and Benin.

"In all, 20 international para-gliders have registered to participate in this year's event and we expect more to register before the set date," he said.

The Minister said Ghana had a lot of high points where paragliding sports could take place, mentioning Hohoe and Gambaga districts as places preparing to host the events.

He said the Ministry was building a training facility in Ghana to train people who wanted to be involved in the sport and expressed the hope that when the training was completed the sport could be held all year round. The paragliding festival would this year charge 500,000 cedis at peak periods of the event, 300,000 during off peak periods and 200,000 cedis during the first and last days.

Students who want to participate would pay 200,000 cedis. Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey called on Ghanaians to patronize the event saying,

"Those who will like to know how the birds feel like when flying will be able to do so."