Bolgatanga Airport will be commercially viable — MD, Ghana Airports Company

The Managing Director (MD) of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, has said that the Bolgatanga Airport, when completed, will be commercially viable and boost international trade.

“I am happy about the fact that there are many neighbouring countries that border where the airport will be constructed, which goes to show that there will be commercial viability due to trade across the borders,” she stressed.

Mrs Opare stated this when she led a team from the GACL in the company of the Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, and other stakeholders, to inspect the proposed site for the construction of the airport last Tuesday.

The visit followed an earlier one by a technical team from the GACL to the site, who undertook a preliminary assessment of the proposed site to pave the way for the managing director’s visit.

Owing to the presence of some mining firms in the region, she pointed out that constructing the airport as well as harnessing the facility properly would undoubtedly make it a viable commercial venture.

Secure land

She said the first step was to secure the earmarked land for the project under the name of the GACL, adding: “I am delighted that land has been made available to pave the way for the execution of the project.”

She said that once the land was registered in the name of the GACL, the project could proceed, adding that the company was poised to commence actual construction of the project for the benefit of the people.

“It is important to establish the size of the land and to make the GACL the owner so as to prevent any future litigation,” she stressed, adding “once the land title is perfected, it will pave the way for the project designs and drawings to be done.”

She also commended the Alagumgube group, natives of the region based in New Jersey, for taking the lead to clear the site and to construct the minimum 2,000 metres runway to facilitate execution of the project.

Mrs Opare said President John Dramani Mahama was serious about the project and assured that with all the initial issues dealt with, visible signs of work would commence in the months ahead.

Border MDAs

The Regional Minister, Mr Atanga, stated that eight municipal and district assemblies (MDAs) in the region shared borders with Burkina Faso and Togo, a situation which would make air travel easier between Ghana and the two neighbouring countries once the airport project became a reality.

He stated further that the chiefs were ready to release additional land for the construction of a hub where aircraft could undergo maintenance, adding: “We have enough land to be used for other projects to enhance the operations of the airport.”

The Paramount Chief of the Nangodi Traditional Area, Naba Yelzoya Kosom Asaga II, welcomed the MD’s visit and expressed optimism that the project would be executed to meet the aspirations of the people.

Writer’s email: gilbert.agbey@graphic.com.gh