From Edmond Gyebi, Tamale
Local traders in the three Northern regions of Ghana, and their counterparts in neighbouring Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, who currently transit through the north to southern Ghana to trade in aluminium, chemicals and metal fabrications, would soon enjoy a faster, safer and reliable transportation system, as Ghana builds a second international airport in Tamale.
The traders up north and those from the neighbouring countries usually transport loads in articulated trucks to and from Ghana, spending several hours or days, including armed robbery attacks and road accidents.
But the upgrading and expansion of the Tamale Airport to an international standard, according to President John Dramani Mahama, would not only ease traffic at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, but would also stimulate the economic growth of the north, facilitate trade activities, enhance the transportation system, and also position the north as one of the attractive investment destinations in Ghana.
President Mahama was addressing the chiefs and people of the Northern Region at a ground-breaking ceremony for the upgrading and expansion of the Tamale Airport.
The $100 million project, which was in fulfilment of a solemn promise made by the late President John Evan Atta Mills, was expected to bring the needed boost to the aviation industry in Ghana.
Mr. Mahama said that the airport, when completed, would handle international operations, including the seasonal Hajj pilgrimage flights between Ghana and Mecca. It is expected to accommodate the Boeing 747-800 series aircraft and similar wide body aircraft.
“Aviation industry is growing rapidly in Ghana, and we need to expand our infrastructure, in order to accommodate the increase in aviation. Kotoka International Airport handles over two million passengers a year. Tamale Airport is over 200,000, and Kumasi Airport is handling about 400,000 passengers a year. And these numbers keep increasing every day”.
Meanwhile, President Mahama said that the expansion works would be in two phases. The first phase would include the upgrading and extension of the runway up to 4,000 metres and the provision and installation of aeronautical ground lighting.
He emphasised that the vision to upgrade the Tamale Airport was to also harness the capacity of the agro-processing companies to produce and transport fruits and vegetable products for local and international consumption. Tourists can also travel straight to Tamale without necessarily going to Accra for flights.
President Mahama said that the airstrips in Wa and Bolgatanga would be upgraded into mini-airports to boost ecotourism and agribusiness in Northern Ghana. The government would also build airports in Ho, Cape Coast and Ningo Prampram.
He announced the launching of a new national airline to bag in the billions of cedis foreign multinationals airlines were enjoying to improve the local economy. The President noted that the new national airline would be set up in conjunction with the private sector, which would have absolute management control, to ensure that it does not fail.
The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Limuna Muniru mentioned the construction of the Damongo-Fufulso Sawla road, the eastern corridor road, expansion of the Tamale Teaching Hospital and the construction of new markets within the Tamale Metropolis as some of the few achievements of the government. Government he cited had built new markets at the Lamashegu, Kukuo, Tamale Central market and a super market at Aboabo to expand the local economy.
Alhaji Limuna therefore called for peace among the residents of the north to ensure smooth implementation of the government development agenda. The Cutting of the sod for the upgrading of the Tamale Airport was preceded by an inspection of ongoing works at the Lahagu Affordable Housing project by the President.
Mr. Mahama also commissioned a rural electrification project at Kootingli in the Tamale South constituency, and later re-cut the nsod for the completion of the abandoned Aboabo Sheanut and grains market, which was initiated by the Acheampong government in 1973.
The occasions were witnessed by the Minister of Transportation, Mrs. Dzifa Aku Attivor, as well as some prominent traditional rulers, including the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya-Naa Abdulai Yakubu Andani, the Overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area, Naa Mahami Bahigu Sheriga, and Buipewura Abdulai Mahama Jinapor II, who represented the Yagbonwura, Tuntunba Bore Essa I.