Impacts of Paragliding Festival on The Socio-Economic Settings of Kwahu Residents in Ghana

The paragliding festival of the Kwahu people in the Eastern Region is one of the most exciting festivities in Ghana. This is due to the fact that a multitude of people all over Ghana and abroad attends these festivities. Many socio-economic impacts are felt by the residents of the area certainly both negatives and positives. This article examined the impacts of paragliding festival on the residents of Atibie and Mpraeso in the Eastern region of Ghana. The study employed a qualitative led mixed method with 110 participants randomly and purposively selected from Atibie and Mpraeso Kwahu. Statistical Package for the Social Scientist (SPSS) version 26 was used to disaggregate and show data. To portray the data for interpretation, tables were used. The study finds socialization, entertainment, and infrastructural development as positive social impact, and positive economic impacts as employment, business linkages, and new business opportunities, income and increased land price and rent. Other negative socio-economic impacts include high crime rate, increase income disparity, increase, high price of essential commodities, and services as well as seasonality effect. The study recommended that Local cultures and native lifestyles should be preserved, and these initiatives should come from the local community itself, as they will bear the brunt of the consequences of such development. Also, Tourism Authority and other stakeholders such as the security services should be part of the event to check on all negative impacts such as crime and drug trafficking while maintaining peace, serenity and visitor interest in the event.