Kumasi, Tamale Airports Upgraded

Upgrading of Takoradi, Tamale and Kumasi Airports will continue after the 26th African Cup of Nations is over, Minister of Aviation, Gloria Akuffo has said.

According to her, the upgrading of the facilities at the airports will make Ghana the hub of aviation as well as enable those airports to handle international flights.

Ms Akuffo was speaking to journalists when she inspected the progress of work on upgrading projects at the Takoradi Air Force Station yesterday.

Sonitra and Consar Limited, two reputable international construction firms with a number of projects to their credit are the contractors of the projects.

Ms Akuffo expressed satisfaction about the progress of work, saying the projects would be ready for the Ghana 2008 tournament.

She said the first phase of work on the runway would be completed for the tournament and the second phase would be considered after the tournament.

Plans have been designed for the Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale Airports to be upgraded into international standards.

With the increasing number of tourists and foreigners trickling into the country every now and done, it is believed that elevation of these airports into international standards will help ease pressure on the Kotoka International Airport in Accra.

Seth Armah, Resident Engineer and Air Commodore Sampson Oge, Station Commander, took the Minister round.

The projects included the rehabilitation and expansion of the airport runway, terminal and control tower as well as the construction of a VIP lounge.