Former Tourism Minister, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey has expressed regret at the cancellation of the 2009 edition of the annual Hang and Paragliding Festival. The festival, named after journalist Ferdinand Ayim who died while running errands to institute hang and paragliding as part of festivities marking Easter by the people of Kwahu in the Eastern Region, has been held annually since its inception five years ago. The Ministry of Tourism however, says its budget is too slim to support the celebration this year, after failing to court the support of the corporate world. Chief Director, Mrs Brigit Katsriku, who has herself been a regular supportive participant over the years, told Joy News; “the revenue out of it doesn’t meet the expenditure,” and was hoping that funding could come from the private sector. “The funding is necessary because the pilots that come from all over the world, especially those who do the tandem flying who take people along with them, we have to pay for their tickets, put them in accommodation, provide transportation for them as long as they stay in Ghana. And we thought that it is too much for us this time, especially with a reduction in the budget. It would be too much for us to do this year”. Listen to Brigit Katsriku’s explanation.