The Akyem Kotoku Citizens Union under the auspices of the Ghana Tourist Board has organised the third in the series of its Easter food festival to promote local dishes. The event was part of activities to commemorate Ghana's 50th Independence Anniversary at Akyem Oda in the Eastern region. The event, which was under the theme: "Still Promoting Our Community Through Tourism", saw different types of Ghanaian dishes on display. The Deputy Executive Director in charge of Operations at Ghana Tourist Board, Mr Edwin Owusu-Mensah, expressed optimism that the festival would help to harness potentials of local food vendors towards the promotion of tourism and fostering unity among people from all walks of life. He commended the Union for advertising Ghanaian dishes as a way of promoting domestic tourism. Mr Owusu-Mensah reminded Ghanaians that tourism was not just about travelling to see interesting sites but also by appreciating exotic foods, produce and cultural practices of the people. He said: "For instance, local crafts, traditional foods, as well as the attitude of the people constitute tourism and so the ordinary person is also involved in tourism." The President of the Union, Dr Grace Bediako, said by organising the festival, the group sought to popularise local dishes and to ensure that the many scarce ones were kept on the dinning tables and on the food-sellers tables. Ohenenana Yaw Victor, secretary of the Union, said the food festival, which was aimed at fostering unity, peace and development in the area could assist in promoting the local economy. Source: GNA