The author is the CNN/Multichoice African Journalist for Arts and Culture and also the Ghana Journalists Association’s 2010 Best Journalist for Arts and Tourism.

Under the chairmanship of Dr. Sulley Gariba of the office of the Vice President, the launch ceremony saw culture at its best with the display of Northern dances by the Ghana Dance Ensemble while delicacies such as koosey, kuklikuli and pito were served.

In his review Mr. David Odoi, a Senior Lecturer of the Language Centre at the University of Ghana said the conversational and crisp style of the book gives the sense of the familiar thereby breaking the mysticism that surrounds the North. Mr. Odoi describes A Sense of Savannah as a travelogue, a narrative, a tourist guide, a reference book on domestic tourism and a work filled with humour. Therefore, he added, ‘we no longer need foreign websites to tell our own story of what Northern Ghana looks like’.

Launching the book Mr. K.B. Asante, a retired educationist and Diplomat said it is anti-developmental that sections of a country are perceived as a Siberia. Mr Asante paid tribute to emerging young writers adding that by venturing out to such unfamiliar destinations and writing vividly about them the author has produced a priceless legacy.

In his closing remarks Dr Sulley Gariba said works such as A Sense of Savannah offer the nation a new way of re-tooling our approach to bringing development to deprived areas. He noted that the essence of the new book resonates with the ideals of the Savannah Accelerated Development Programme.

Also present at the event were the Executive Director of the Ghana Tourist Board, Mr Julius Debrah, General Secretary of the Ghana Journalist Association, Bright Blewu and the Regional Cultural Advisor of UNESCO, Madam Moji Okuribido.

In his own remarks after the launch, Kofi Akpabli said the book is like giving back to society since he started freelancing when he did National Service in Paga. He said information about less known tourist destinations such as those found in the North is useful. "Registering the heartbeat of the places, the smell of the events and the colour of the people’s aspirations enriches the experience of the visitor. Capturing the essence of this is what A Sense of Savannah is about" he said.

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‘By converting tourist information to a delightful, narrative piece, the author has blazed the trail for the travel writing genre in Ghana’- Ghana Review International

Mrs Dansua intends to pursue an aggressive tourism development project she says must transform the sector.

She met with news editors Friday to put her plans before them, solicit their input and court their support.

Giving an overview of some of the problems militating against the development of the sector – which she intends to tackle head-on – the minister said the perilous nature of road travel, coupled with high domestic airfares, were seriously undermining efforts to increase the numbers of tourism arrivals in the country. This, she said had been compounded by the difficult-to-access nature of some of the tourist sites.

Inadequate marketing and branding, in her view, negatively affects the growth of the sector which is the fourth largest foreign exchange earner in the country.

To address these challenges, Ms Sena Dansua said an ultra-modern Tourism Information Centre, expected to be completed by October this year, was being constructed in Accra.

Recognizing that there can never be enough funding from central government, the tourism minister said a Ghana Tourism Development Fund to source and pool resources from donors and the private sector, was in the works.

She is not impressed that the collaboration between the private and public sectors in the development of tourism is weak, and indicated her desire to strengthen the collaboration.

Ms Sena Dansua, who is also the Member of Parliament for North Dayi in the Volta Region, said she was also concerned with the preponderance of sensational journalism, arguing that such media reports can create a non-existent bleak atmosphere in the country and which will scare potential tourists.

As many as thirty five invited foreign pilots have been paragliding together with other revellers at the event.

Speaking to Joy News, the Deputy Tourism Minister, James Agyenim-Boateng who underwent a paragliding session, said the ministry would push for an increase in the number of times the paragliding festival is organised.

The deputy minister described the experience as awesome and exciting.

Meanwhile as Ghanaians mark Good Friday, many people have travelled to their hometowns to mark the Easter holidays.

One group that has benefited are transport operators who say the festive Easter season has been good for business and provided an opportunity to make good profit.

A Director with one of the transport operators, VIP Transport, Richard Kusi has told Joy News returns have been good so far.

He said about 80 buses leave Accra for Kumasi daily on normal days but the number had increased dramatically as a result of the Easter.

Joy News checks with the various terminals revealed that majority of persons travelling are heading to Kwahu in the Eastern region.

In another development, President Mills has cautioned motorists against speeding even as they partake in the Easter festivities.

He urged them to endeavour to keep to speed limits and respect traffic regulations in order to prevent wanton loss of precious lives.

Source: Joy News/Ghana

A statement issued by the Tourism Ministry said, “This year’s event promises to be extra exciting, with about 32 pilots from seven countries including Germany, USA, Switzerland, and South Africa. A host of participants from as far as the Northern Region are also expected to be present.”

This year’s is the 6th edition of the festival which is one of the high profile tourist events on the country’s tourism calendar.

The Tourism Ministry says this year’s event will also see a durbar of chiefs from the Kwahu Traditional area to be held on Saturday, April 23.

“The opening ceremony, which would be performed by the Tourism Minister, Mrs. Akua Sena Dansua is on Friday, April 22. The Ministry of Tourism and its agencies, especially the Ghana Tourist Board, entreat Ghanaians to cultivate the habit of taking a vacation by partaking in the celebrations.”

It appealed tourists to “exercise the highest level of morality, decency, and moderation in all activities they embark on in the area during the period. We also appeal to all road users to drive with care, avoid over speeding and unnecessary overtaking, avoid drink-driving, and adhere to road traffic regulations.”

Source: Myjoyonline.com/Ghana