Tamale International Airport project begins
President John Dramani Mahama Tuesday performed the ceremonial sod-cutting at the Tamale Airport to mark the beginning of the project to upgrade that airport to an international status.
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When completed, it will become Ghana’s second international airport.
The first phase of the project, which is being undertaken solely by the Ghana Airports Company (GAC) with a $100-million Brazilian facility, is expected to end in 2015.
The project includes a 4,000-metre runway extension, the construction of additional aprons, the installation of aeronautical ground lighting systems and the construction of a perimeter road and a security fence.
Preparatory works were commenced some weeks ago by the Brazilian contractors, Queiroz Galvao.
Upon completion, the Tamale International Airport will be able to accommodate larger aircraft, including the Boeing 747-800 series.
Currently, Ghana has only one international airport, the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Accra.
The completion of a second international airport is expected to divert some traffic from the KIA, as Ghana makes giant strides to upgrade its airline infrastructure to rival Africa’s key hubs such as Ethiopia and South Africa.
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Built in 1940, the Tamale Airport originally served as an operational base for troops during the Second World War.
It has since undergone various forms of modification and today it is used for both civil and military operations.
President Mahama dedicated the project to the memory of the late President Mills, who dreamt of the project and began preparatory works before his demise.
The President touched on the booming aviation industry and said Ghana needed to take full advantage of that boom.
Currently, Ghana receives 30 direct international flights to Accra, while three domestic airlines operate from the KIA to the various airports in the country.
The KIA handles over two million passengers a year; the Kumasi Airport handles 400,000, while the Tamale Airport handles 200,000.
Benefits
Touching on the benefits of an international airport in Tamale, President Mahama said it was not just to carry passengers.
"This part of the country has good arable land for agro processing. This has not been harnessed because there is no good air transport. As such, exporting vegetables is always a problem.
"The completion of the project will, therefore, allow for the export of agro vegetables directly to the European market," he said.
The President said the airport would also enable Muslim pilgrims to fly directly to Medina in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
He said the Kumasi Airport was also undergoing massive upgrading which would eventually transform it into an international airport.
Plans were also in place to build mini-airports in Ho, Bolgatanga and Cape Coast, he said.
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Besides, the President said moves to build a new international airport at Ningo Prampram were on course, adding that strategic partners were being sought.
New airline
On the proposed new national airline, he said it was not going to be a wasteful venture as some pessimists were advancing.
He said the government would be the minority shareholder, with private entities participating in the deal.
The Minister of Transport, Mrs Dzifa Ativor, said the revolution going on in the aviation sector was testimony of the government's resolve to take the country to another level.
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She gave an assurance that every effort would be made to make Ghana the hub of the aviation business in Africa.