Ministry considers feasibility of commercial airport for Central, Western regions

The Ministry of Aviation is considering constructing a commercial airport for the Central and Western regions.

The airport is expected to be connected by railways to ensure easy access and to help open up the two regions.

In line with that, the Minister of Aviation, Ms Cecilia Dapaah, and officials of the ministry yesterday inspected a site at Aburansa and parts of Shama to ascertain its feasibility.

New facility

Ms Dapaah said the facility which would have a wider and longer runway than the Kotoka International Airport would receive commercial cargo planes and major aircrafts.

She added that the government was committed to opening up the country to boost socio-economic activities and called for co-operation and collaboration among all stakeholders for the effective implementation of the project.

 The Manager of Aerodrome Safety Standards of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Ms Anita Adjei Nmashie, said the construction required an eight-kilometre straight length land that can take the alignment of the runway.

“If we can align the runway, then all other facilities will fall in place,” she stated.

She indicated that the technical team of the ministry would have to do further feasibility studies on the site to conclude on its suitability for the project.

The Airstrip promise

In June 2017, Ms Dapaah inspected 3,000-acres acquired for the construction of a new airstrip near Ataabadze in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality of the Central Region.

 The minister, who was accompanied by officials and management of the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL), GCAA, the Central Regional Minister, Mr Kwamena Duncan, the KEEA Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Appiah Korang, as well as a technical team from the Central Regional Coordinating Council (CRCC), inspected the land for the commencement of the work with an aim to boost tourism activities and ease traffic in the area.The project is, however, yet to take off.