Tamale International Airport Phase II project awarded to Bawumia

 At a colorful event in the Northern Regional capital, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia commissioned the Tamale International Airport Phase II project.

The project is being facilitated under the auspices of the UK-Ghana Business Council (UKGBC), which was established in 2018 and is co-chaired by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. It is part of the government's aviation sector infrastructure development program, which aims to expand the aviation industry's frontiers and make Ghana the aviation hub within the West African sub-region.

Dr. Bawumia, who broke ground on the project on August 15, 2019, expressed happiness that the Tamale International Airport Phase II project had been finished four years earlier.

"The completion of this ultra-modern terminal building, as well as a multi-purpose terminal and other ancillary facilities, is expected to provide the needed impetus for increased economic trading activities and to re-establish Tamale's status as a Sub-Saharan Hub Airport for flights to and from neighboring West African countries and the Sahel region."

"The Tamale International Airport will serve as an alternative to the Kotoka International Airport," he said.

An approximately 5,000 metre square expandable ultra-modern Airport Terminal Building with an expected annual passenger throughput of 400,000; a multi-purpose Terminal (Hajj Facility), a 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 are among the works undertaken at the Airport.

A VIP lounge, two boarding gates, two self-service check-in kiosks, eight check-in desks, airline offices, and commercial retail areas are among the features of the new terminal structure.

The project is expected to cost $70 million.

Noting that the Northern Region is well-known for its vibrancy in agricultural and economic activities, Vice President Bawumia stated that the airport's location within the Sahelian belt, also known as Ghana's food basket, is expected to improve access to markets for local agricultural produce, boost tourism, and attract passengers from neighboring countries.

"This project is so dear to the Government, especially to the hardworking people of the Northern Region and its trading partners across the length and breadth of the country and the Sub-Region," Dr Bawumia said at the commissioning, which took place on Tuesday, August 22, 2023.

"In fact, the government intends to use Tamale International Airport to support the Northern Development Authority (NDA) of Ghana's programs to harness fresh agricultural produce for export to other parts of the world, as well as to generate employment and wealth in this geographical zone."

"The agricultural boost would be used to support the development of agro-based industries in Northern Ghana." Tamale International Airport expansion is expected to be a catalyst for industry and rapid socioeconomic development.

"I hope that other service providers will use the completion of this project to invest in other areas such as the establishment of a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility, the development of cargo facilities and cold stores for the export of fresh produce, and the establishment of an Aviation Training Organization (ATO)," he said.

Hajj

The airport's extension is also significant, according to Dr. Bawumia, because it will make it easier for Muslim pilgrims to travel to Mecca for the yearly pilgrimage.

"It is also expected that the Tamale International Airport will make Tamale the Hajj hub in Ghana, allowing for seamless travel directly to Saudi Arabia for the seasonal pilgrimage to Mecca." It is heartening to learn that the multi-purpose terminal, which was finished in 2022, has been used to facilitate Hajj pilgrims in 2022 and 2023.

Airport Arrives

Vice President Bawumia raised alarm over widespread encroachment on airport lands, warning that it jeopardizes future airport expansion and could impede rescue attempts in the unlikely case of a disaster.

"Our airport operators and regulators, as well as the Lands Commission, must collaborate closely to ensure that airport lands are properly protected and managed, not only for future airport expansion, but also to protect lives and property in the unlikely event of an accident occurring at or near the airport enclave." As a result, I charge the agencies involved with enforcing the law, and I implore all residents to assist so that we can fully profit from the expansion of the aviation sector."

Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, Minister of Transport, invited airline operators in the subregion and beyond to take advantage of Ghana's expanding aviation capabilities, promising them a "unrivaled travel experience" to - and within - Ghana.

Source: myjoyonline.com