Upper East Airport: Alagumgube applauds Mahama’s 24-month construction plan

Development advocacy group, Alagumgube has welcomed President John Dramani Mahama’s renewed commitment to the construction of the long-awaited Upper East Regional Airport, describing the announcement as a significant step towards improving connectivity and accelerating development in the region.

President Mahama, during his Resetting Ghana Tour of the Upper East Region, inspected the proposed airport site and announced that government intends to commence construction of the facility before the end of 2026.

The President said he would return to the region in October to cut the sod for the project, subject to the completion of the necessary procurement and approval processes. Construction is expected to take approximately 24 months once work begins.

The proposed airport, which is planned for the Bolgatanga area, is expected to provide the Upper East Region with direct air connectivity and reduce the need for residents and businesses to travel to Tamale to access domestic flights to Accra.

President Mahama described the project as a potential “game changer” for the region, saying it could stimulate economic activity, attract investment and support the growth of businesses, including mining companies operating in the area. The airport is also expected to facilitate the development of a new economic hub around the facility.

According to the Ghana Airports Company Limited, the proposed facility will have a 2.2-kilometre runway, an apron capable of accommodating two aircraft, a taxiway, airfield lighting, an integrated terminal and air traffic control tower, as well as Rescue and Fire Fighting Services. An approximately five-kilometre asphalted access road is also expected to form part of the project.

Alagumgube has been among the groups that have consistently advocated for the establishment of an airport in the Upper East Region.

The group, led by its founder Gabriel Agambila, has previously undertaken activities at the proposed airport site, including clearing the abandoned runway area and supporting efforts to prepare the site for government intervention. In March 2025, the group mobilised earthmoving equipment to clear and re-gravel portions of the site while renewing its appeal to successive governments to fulfil the long-standing airport promise.

Rev. Nat Awuni, Vice Chair of Alagumgube Diaspora, also welcomed President Mahama’s renewed commitment, saying the announcement provides fresh hope that the long-standing dream of an airport for the Upper East Region could finally become a reality.

He said the project, if successfully executed, would have far-reaching implications for the region’s economic development, particularly by improving accessibility, attracting investment and creating opportunities for businesses and young people.

The organisation has consistently maintained that the airport would have significant economic and developmental benefits for the region and has urged government to move beyond promises to the actual commencement and completion of the project.

The latest commitment comes after months of renewed public discussion over the status of the project. In June 2026, Alagumgube dismissed reports of an imminent June 29 sod-cutting ceremony, arguing that critical technical, administrative and procurement processes still needed to be completed before construction could credibly begin.

With the President now indicating that the sod-cutting is expected in October and that construction should take 24 months, attention is shifting from advocacy and planning to the actual commencement and completion of the project.

For Alagumgube and other development stakeholders, the commitment represents an important milestone in the region’s long-standing quest for an airport and an opportunity to strengthen the Upper East Region’s connection to the rest of Ghana.

The group is expected to continue advocating for the project while urging government to ensure that the necessary processes are completed and physical construction begins as scheduled.