Vice President Dr. 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), which was established in 2018 and co-chaired by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the project is part of government’s aviation sector infrastructure development programme 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 15th of August 2019 for works to begin on the project, expressed delight that four years on, the Tamale International Airport Phase II project has 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 this 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-enforce the status of Tamale as a sub-Saharan Hub Airport for flights to and from neigbouring West African countries and the Sahel region.
“The Tamale International Airport will serve as an alternative to the Kotoka International Airport,” he added.
Works undertaken at the Airport include 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), 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.
The project is estimated at the cost of $70m.
Noting that the Northern Region is renowned for its vibrancy in agricultural and economic activities, Vice President Bawumia said the location of the airport within the Sahelian belt, also referred to as the food basket of Ghana, is 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 industrialization 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.
Hajj
The expansion of the Airport is also strategic, Dr Bawumia added, explaining that it will help ease the travel of Muslim faithful for 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.
Airport Lands
Vice President Bawumia expressed concern about the widespread encroachment on airport lands, warning that it threatens future expansion of our airports and could hamper rescue efforts in the unlikely event of an accident.
“The operators and regulators of our airports, as well as, 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.”
In her statement, the Managing Director, Madam Pamela Djamson-Tettey, catalogued events leading to the commissioning of the project. She indicated that following the handover, the Operational Readiness and Transfer Phase (ORAT) Phase kicked in. This involved the testing of equipment and systems, training of Personnel and subsequently, the gradual migration of operations from the old to the new Terminal. The objective, she said was to mitigate the risks associated with the transfer of operations.
She commended staff especially the ORAT team for their dedication, hardwork and resilience during the ORAT Phase of the project, making the migration of operations a hitch-free one.
Madam Djamson-Tettey reiterated GACL’s committment to providing world-class facilities and services for the benefit of stakeholders.
She further assured that GACL would continue to keep the airports safe and secure and offer users of the airports a pleasant experience.
The Minister for Transport, 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.