Development Of Central And Western Airports On Top Of Gov't Plans

Mrs Cecilia Abenaa Dapaah, Minister of Aviation on Wednesday expressed government's unwavering determination to construct an ultra-modern Central/Western commercial airport to boost trade and investments.

She indicated that the initiative was among an integrated broader programme to develop Ghana's aviation hub and make it the foremost choice in Africa.

The Aviation Minister gave the assurance at a preliminary tour of the project sites at Aburansa and Shama in the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrim (KEEA) Municipality of the Central Region and Shama in the Shama Ahanta East District of the Western Region.

The visit was to enable the Minister and her team of experts to know the exact location of the proposed facility, it parking area, terminals and obstructions as well as spot coordinates of the area to enable the master designs and map works to be done.

The tour also enabled them to access wind data direction to align the airport runway, which would be assessed in collaboration with the Ghana Meteorological Agency.

The Minister was accompanied by her Deputy, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko, Western Regional Minister, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, Mr Appiah Korang, KEEA Municipal Chief Executive, a team of experts and heads of departments at the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

In line with that objective, she said, government was in negotiation with financial partners and other stakeholders to determine all other financial commitments and construction period.

The Minister stated that her outfit, in collaboration with the Roads and Railway Ministries would soon be developing the itinerary roads infrastructure and rail transport to ease commuting distance.

She said the Ministry was also working closely with the Ministry of Tourism to unlock the tourism potentials of the Region and make it the preferred tourism destination for local and international tourists.

"We are working in collaboration with the Ministry of tourism to boost the tourism potentials of the region and ease transportation challenges of tourists to boost the sector".

In addition, she explained that the facility will create jobs, expand the local economies of the Regions and ease international medical evacuation to promote eco-tourism.

Mrs Anita Adjei Namashie, Manager, Aerodrome Safety and Standards (ASAS) of the GCAA, was satisfied with the site and expressed their readiness to properly developed the necessary documentation to begin construction works.

"We are looking at having an International Airport with mixed operations, wide-body checks to receive bowing 747, 737. It will operate like the Kotoka International Airport," she said.

Earlier, the Minister and her entourage paid a courtesy call on Nana Kojo Kru II, Omanhen of Akatekyiman and the Chief of Komenda to seek his support for the project.