Day: April 8, 2023

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Ministry of Tourism launches 2023 Kwahu Easter paragliding festival

Mr. Mark OkrakuMantey, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture has launched the 2023 Kwahu Easter paragliding festival at Odweanoma mountains at Atibie in Kwahu South Municipality.

At the ceremony, he said the paragliding was a major role for domestic and international tourism for Ghana.

He said in 2022, Ghana was adjudged the number one in tourism in West Africa and said President Nana Addo DankwaAkufo-Addo's viable decision for the tourism industry contributed to the achievement.

He commended the participation of the private sectors in the tourism industry and said tourism was a marketing environment which everyone could benefit from. ' Tourism is no longer a facade, it's a big business for profit so we should all get involved. The whole country will benefit from the equity if we play the game well.'

Paragliding is an aviation sport that is enjoyed by hundreds of people around the world.

The origin of paragliding has roots in the sport of parachuting. In Ghana, paragliding was initiated by the Ministry of Tourism in April 2005 during the annual Easter Festival in Kwahu Atibie. It was organized to coincide with the Easter festivities that year on the Odweanoma Mountains, with the exception of 2009.

The paragliding festival has been organized each year. As an aviation sport, the event is patronized by both local and international tourists during the Easter season.

Mr . Akwasi Agyeman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Tourism Authority said the authority was determined about the domestic tourism promotion under the Ghana Tourism Development Project which was currently being administered by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. Especially the ' Experience Ghana, Share Ghana ' campaign.

He said the campaign was to encourage the public to travel and experience Ghana through attractions, food, clothing, music and dance.

'The public will also have the opportunity to experience Ghana with discounted tour packages and a chance to win prizes by sharing the activities they engage in through postings on all social media platforms'.

Mr. Seth Kwame Acheampong, Eastern Regional Minister said ' we cannot be talking about paragliding festival without showcasing our culture, as it is who we are as a people. The region is endeared with diverse natural resources and tourist sites.' Among them are the rivers and lakes in the Kwahu AframPlains, the Kwahu mountain ranges, Bunso canopy walk, Atiwa Forest Reserve, the Digya Forest Reserve in the AframPlains, the Oda big tree, the Boti Water Falls, and AburiBotanical Garden.

He said ' it is our hope that as we continue to celebrate our conservation and preservation of our eco- system as a people, the youth should develop much interest in saying no to poaching, galamsey, and the wanton destruction of our forest reserves. Let us take conscious steps to imbibe in importance Our of youth the the rich vegetation cover which have been handed down to us by our ancestors.' He expressed the hope that taking cognizance of the festival vitality and values would better equip the people to build a better eco-system to survive us and the generation yet to come.

There were seven pilots for the paragliding flight at this year's Kwahu Easter festival and the patronage was encouraging.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Christians must give up sinful conduct – Dag Heward-Mills

Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, the Presiding Bishop of the United Denominations Originating from the Lighthouse Group of Churches, has charged Christiansto demonstrate lifestyles that do not embrace sin.

Christians must, therefore, eschew vices such as alcoholism, stealing, fornication, adultery and robbery, he emphasised in his Good Friday sermon.

'To follow Jesus is not easy. It requires sacrifices because you can't follow Jesus and continue to do what you claim you have repented from,' he explained.

'All the bad things you used to do in your past life are supposed to die with the past life.

Bishop Heward-Mills gave the admonishment when he delivered a sermon on the 'Cross' at the Church's 2023 Good Friday Miracle Service, held at the Black Stars Square, in Accra.

The Service attracted thousands of believers - both members and visitors from across the country.

Mostly clad in black to signify mourning, they sang enthusiastically to worship and praise the Lord for His suffering on the cross and sacrifice to humanity.

Bishop Heward-Mills explained that the Cross of Jesus Christ symbolised the sacrifice one had to make to serve God, adding that, the Cross was the value of the price that had to be paid.

'There is a price to be paid as Christians,' he added.

'To be a Christian is to take up your cross and follow Jesus, and if you can't do it, is too bad, you cannot be a Christian.'

Bishop Heward-Mills also noted that to follow Jesus Christ required one to be obedient as exhibited by Christ, even to hisdeath.

'The Cross is a symbol of obedience and humility. Jesus Christ was obedient even to death. Let's be obedient for the rest of our years,' he added.

Christians across the globe on Friday, marked Good Friday, which is one of the significant pillars of their faith.

The Day marks the suffering, crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Christ’s death brings joy to Christians – Cat. Offei

Catechist (Cat.) Alexander Offei of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Ramseyer Congregation at Baakokrom in Koforidua has said the death of Jesus Christ brought joy to Christians instead of sorrow.

He said over two millennia ago, the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ brought sorrow to Believers, however, today His death has become a good day for humanity.

Cat. Offei was preaching to congregants of the PCG - Ramseyer Congregation on the theme; Dying With The Lord, during the Good Friday celebration.

He said the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ was an invitation to all humanity to share in His death and the benefit it brought.

'Our acceptance of this invitation means that we die to this world and its sins and live in the strength of the resurrected Christ', he stated.

Dying with Jesus Christ, he noted was not for Believers to physically kill themselves but to let go of all things which caused them to sin against God.

Again, he noted that the death of Jesus Christ which brought Christians forgiveness, redemption and reconciliation did not permit Christians to continue to sin.

'It does not mean that Christ has paid it all by His death, so we can continue to live the sinful way, No', he said.

Cat. Offei, therefore, advised Christians to take advantage of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made to live an upright life to obtain the full benefit of the death of Christ.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Stop chasing prophecies, seek God personally – Christians urged

A minister of the Wesley Methodist Cathedral, Cape Coast, has observed with worry the many Christians, who have left their fates in the hands of supposed prophets and ritualists to determine how they live their lives, especially in marriage and in business.

He said that undermined the significance of the crucifixion of Christ, which gave mankind a direct relationship with God.

The Very Reverend Samuel Bassaw, the Superintendent Minister of the Church, therefore, urged Christians to desist from chasing after miracles and rituals and rather seek God personally.

'With the death of Christ and by His blood, you have an intimate relationship with God. It means we can depend on God and Him alone.'

'So, let us stop relying on miracles and prophecies and have the confidence to go to God personally and make our requests known to Him and we will not be disappointed.'

Very Rev. Bassaw gave the admonition in his Good Friday sermon, on the theme: 'Dying with the Lord.'

He said it was not entirely wrong for a pastor or a church member to intercede in prayers for another, but it should not be a substitute for a personal active interaction with God.

'We have a great priest who presides over the house of God and that is Jesus Christ, who is the solution to whatever we go through on earth.'

He urged Christians to do away with every negativity and live reformed lives as 'they died with Christ.'

'Let us Identify with the Lord, His suffering and grace, and all blessings will be ours,' he added.

Christians must not let the guilt of their sins weigh them down because God would always forgive them, he added.

'…But that does not mean we should continue to sin intentionally.'

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Angola’s judo squad win African junior Cup

Angola’s National Judo Team won Friday in Luanda the Junior African Cup, with four gold medals, 10 silver and 15 bronze.

The four athletes who won the gold medals are Eldimira Segunda (- 48 Kg), Domingas Jaime (- 63 Kg), Suzana Quimbambata (- 78 Kg) and Santos Sebastião (- 81 Kg).

During the competition held at the Kilamba sports pavilion, the athletes Vânia Quissua (- 48 Kg), Augusto Dala (- 66 Kg), Sónia Lourenço (- 52 Kg), Yola Piedade (- 57 Kg), Cresmila Jaime (- 63 Kg), Josefa João (-70 Kg), Zeferino Gabriel (-73 Kg), Odete Pedro (-78 Kg), José Eduardo (-81 Kg) and Nega Silva (-100 Kg) snatched the silver medals.

On the other hand, Vânia Gabriel, Maria Segunda (- 48 kg), More Tchihaluca (- 52 kg), Neomia Bundy (- 57 kg), Barros Menezes (- 60 kg), Paula Gaspar (- 63 kg), Cornélio Chimbinba, Célcio Cândido and Carlos Augusto (- 66 Kg), Leonardo Rabacal (- 60 Kg), Carlos Augusto (- 66 Kg), Joana Moundo (- 57 Kg), David Caterca (- 81 Kg), Marta Gabriel (- 70 Kg) and Yunilde Lopes (- 78 Kg) won the bronze medals.

In the overall standings, Angola edged second-placed Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with two golds and one bronze and third-placed Senegal with one gold and one silver

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)