Govt to start Phase 2 of Kumasi Airport expansion

The Minister of Aviation, Mrs Cecilia Abena Dapaah, has mentioned that government will soon begin Phase-Two of the redevelopment projects of the Kumasi Airport.

The redevelopment will see the expansion of the runway, as well as the installation of aeronautic lights to ensure adequate visibility on the tarmac.

Addressing the media after a one-day familiarisation tour of the Kumasi Airport on Monday, the minister said the extension of the runway would enable large-bodied aircraft such as Boeing 737 to land on the tarmac.

Addressing the need for a waiting room for domestic passengers at the airport, she said a permanent structure would soon be constructed in both Accra and Kumasi to ease the plight of passengers.

She said aside fromthe Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Takoradi and Sunyani airports, plans were far advanced to establish one airport in all the remaining regions across the country. 

She commended the management of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for their good work in spite of the limited resources available.

Govt committed

She also has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expand the aviation industry in the country to make it more accessible and convenient for the people.

That, she said, would attract more investors into the sector and make air-lifting more competitive to enable passengers to get value for their money in order to continue to stay in business and help build a robust Ghanaian economy. 

The Akufo Addo-led administration, she said, was committed to creating an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and thereby create employment opportunities for the people.

She was accompanied by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Simon Osei-Mensah; and his deputy, Mrs Elisabeth Agyemang, as well as the Chief Executive Officer of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Mr Osei Asibey Antwi. Also with her was the Chief Executive officer of Ghana Airports Company Limited, Mr John Attafuah.

Encroachment

Mr Attafuah thanked the minister and her entourage for their dedication to transform the aviation industry. 

He said a major challenge confronting the Kumasi Airport was encroachment, adding that evacuation letters had already been issued to these squatters and assured the minister that could not disrupt expansion works.