Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has commissioned the Tamale International Airport Phase II Project at a colourful ceremony in the Northern Regional capital.
Facilitated under the auspices of the UK-Ghana Business Council (UKGBC) established in 2018 and co-chaired by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the project is part of the Government’s aviation sector infrastructure development programme.
It is designed to expand the frontiers of the aviation industry and to make Ghana the aviation hub within the West African Sub-region.
Dr Bawumia, who broke ground on August 15, 2019, for works to begin on the project, expressed delight that four years on, the Tamale International Airport Phase II project had been completed.
“This project is so dear to the Government and particularly the hard-working people of the Northern Region and its trading partners across the length and breadth of the country and the Sub-Region,” Dr Bawumia stated at the Commissioning, held on Tuesday, August 22, 2023.
The completion of the ultra-modern terminal building together with a multi-purpose Terminal and other ancillary facilities are expected to provide the needed impetus for increased economic trading activities and to re-inforce the status of Tamale as a Sub-Saharan Hub Airport for flights to and from neigbouring West African countries and the Sahel region.
The Airport will serve as an alternative to the Kotoka International Airport.
Works undertaken at the Airport include an approximately 5,000 metre square expandable ultra-modern Airport Terminal Building with annual passenger throughput of 400,000; a multi-purpose Terminal (Hajj Facility), 5km Single Carriageway Access Road; a 330 capacity car park, a Technical hub to manage electricity, waste water treatment and other essentials, as well as other ancillary facilities.
The features of the New Terminal Building include a VIP lounge; two Boarding Gates; two Self-Service Check-in Kiosks; eight Check-in Desks; Airline offices and Commercial Retail Areas.
At $70m, the cost of works on the Tamale Airport Phase II Project is significantly lower than the $110m cost incurred under Phase I, undertaken between 2014 and 2016, although the scope of works – extension of the runway by one kilometer, installation of lights and the partial fencing of the airport – were fewer.
The Northern Region is renowned for its vibrancy in agricultural and economic activities, Vice President Bawumia said, noting that the location of the Airport within the Sahelian belt, also referred to as the food basket of Ghana, was expected to enhance access to market for the local agriculture produce, enhance tourism and attract passengers from neighboring countries.
“Indeed, Government intends to use Tamale International Airport to support the programmes of the Northern Development Authority (NDA) of Ghana to harness fresh agricultural produce for export to other parts of the world and to generate employment and create wealth in this geographical zone.
“The boost in agriculture would be leveraged to support the development of Agro-based industries in Northern Ghana. The expansion of the Tamale International Airport is expected to serve as a catalyst for industrialisation and rapid socio-economic development.
“It is my hope that other service providers will leverage the completion of this project to invest in other areas such as the establishment of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, development of cargo facilities and cold stores for export of fresh produce and establishment of Aviation Training Organization (ATO) among others.”
Dr Bawumia said the expansion would address some challenges Muslims faced in the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
“Significantly, it is also expected that the Tamale International Airport will make Tamale the Hajj hub in Ghana and facilitate seamless travel directly to Saudi Arabia for the seasonal pilgrimage to Mecca. It is gratifying to note that the multi-Purpose Terminal, which was completed in 2022, has been used in facilitating Hajj Pilgrims in 2022 and 2023.”
Vice President Bawumia expressed concern about the widespread encroachment on airport lands, warning that it threatened future expansion of the airports and could hamper rescue efforts in the unlikely event of an accident.
“The operators and regulators of our airports and the Lands Commission need to work closely together to ensure that airport lands are properly protected and well managed not only for future airport expansion, but also to safeguard lives and property in the unlikely event of an accident occurring at or around the airport enclave. I, therefore, charge the authorities involved to enforce the law and I also entreat all citizens to cooperate for us to fully benefit from the development of the aviation sector.”
The Minister of Transport, Mr Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, urged airline operators in the subregion and beyond to take advantage of the increasing aviation offerings in Ghana, promising them an “unmatched travel experience” to – and in – Ghana.
GNA