Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama today cut sod for work to begin on the upgrading and expansion of the Tamale airport to international one.
The $100 million project which is expected to complete in September next year will enable passengers from the Northern, Upper East, Upper West regions and neigbouring countries such as Togo, Ivory Coast and Burkina-Faso to flight direct from the Northern Regional capital, Tamale, to abroad.
Making Tamale airport as international airport would not only lessen the burden and encumbering of international business men and women but would also help reduce the high poverty situation in the area as many young men and women would be able to secure jobs as it would attract numerous investors in the metropolis.
The influx of both local and international investors that the airport would be able to woo into the north would also curb violence conflicts that the metropolis experienced intermittently as many of the youth be fully engaged as old proverbs says ‘the devil finds work idle hands’.
It is therefore no wonder the residents of the region particularly various paramount chiefs and opinion leaders attended the sod cutting ceremony in their numbers.
The Planning and Engineering Manager Thiago Pinao last June briefing media and the Minister of Transport Mrs. Dzifa Peace Aku Ativor who visited the project cite to inspect level of preparation said the company is much ready and waiting for government to cut sod to commence work of the project.
The Phase one of the Tamale Airport expansion includes 1,460 meters Runways work and a landing light system to ensure twenty-four hour operations.
He said 86 workers comprising 33 locals, 15 expatriates, and 38 subcontractors are already on site .
The Project Engineer said accommodation, canteen, clinic and other facilities have been put in place to ensure the welfare of the workers to enable them discharge their duties well.
He said the projects would engage more of the youths in the region to increase the employment rate and called for stakeholders’ collaboration to ensure a blissful project.
Engineer Pinao revealed that some materials needed for the project would be acquired in Ghana since most raw materials were of high quality.
According to him, measures are being put in place to meet the challenges of the rain in order not to disrupt the project but to meet the deadline.
The project which duration is 17 months is expected to start next month and complete September next year.
He insisted that the project would not hamper the smooth operation of the domestic planes which has been helping to boost business in the region as well as frustrate investors.
The rehabilitation of the first phase of the 4000 meters run ways would accommodate bigger planes to boost business in the North he stressed.
This would also attract more investors since the rehabilitation would pave way for construction of a warehouse, hotels as well as other facilities that would make business conducive for all to ensure economic growth which would go a long way to reduce the unemployment rate confronting the people.
Deputy Transport Minister Joyce Motgari was confident that timelines for completion of the project would be met.
“In this particular instance, I don’t envisage any such gaps or mishaps in terms of funding, expertise or what-have-you. The money is available…This is a project we are looking forward to”, said Motgari.
Brazilian contractors, Queiroz Galvao, have tested the soil and taken measurements for work to begin.
The contractors have also put finishing touches to their accommodation and office structures, comprising warehouses, a laboratory, a canteen and a medical centre at the Air Force base in Tamale.
With an average annual growth of 10%, Ghana’s aviation industry is one of the fastest-growing and competitive in the West African sub-region.
Ghana’s aviation sector is supported by airports and aerodromes namely Kotoka International Airport (KIA) and regional airports located in Kumasi, Tamale and Sunyani as well as various airstrips dotted around the country
African Eye News
