Businesses Within Airport City To Be Closed Down

All businesses and offices located within the Airport City in Accra will be closed to the public from Friday evening, when US President Barack Obama arrives in the country, till Saturday, when he departs.

Additionally, flights to the Kotoka International Airport will be temporarily suspended on Friday evening and just before President Obama’s departure on Saturday.

The National Security Co-ordinator, Lt. Col. Larry Gbevlo-Lartey (retd), told the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday that the moves formed part of security measures that had been put in place for the visit of President Obama.

He, however, assured the general public that adequate measures were in place to ensure their convenience during the US President’s stay in Ghana.

As part of the Vision 2020 plan of the government, the Airport City forms part of the gateway programme, with a number of hotels built there to accommodate businessmen and investors who visit the country.

The Airport City project is also one of the many projects that the government wants to embark on to enhance the development of the Accra-Tema area.

The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) as the landowners are supposed to execute the 'Airport City' Complex and develop hospitality facilities including hotels, shopping malls, offices, parking areas and recreational areas on the 40-acre space.

Lt. Col. Gbevlo-Lartey explained that the closeness of the Airport City to the aviation wing of the KIA made it a security zone and that it was important to temporarily halt commercial activities there till President Obama comes and goes.