In the capital of the Northern Regional, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia oversaw the commissioning of the Tamale International Airport Phase II Project.
The project, facilitated by the UK-Ghana Business Council (UKGBC) and co-chaired by Dr. Bawumia, is a component of Ghana’s infrastructure development plan for the aviation sector, which aims to grow the sector and establish Ghana as a hub for aviation in West Africa.
Dr. Bawumia, who formally launched the project on August 15, 2019, expressed his happiness at the Tamale International Airport Phase II’s four-year completion.
In addition to strengthening Tamale’s position as a Sub-Saharan Hub Airport and providing an alternative to Kotoka International Airport, he emphasized the importance of the project in promoting economic trading activities.
The airport’s construction projects include a 5,000 square meter, expandable, ultra-modern terminal building with a 400,000 annual passenger capacity, a multi-purpose terminal (Hajj Facility), a 5 km single carriageway access road, a 330 space parking garage, a technical hub for electricity and wastewater treatment, and other auxiliary facilities.
A VIP lounge, two boarding gates, two self-service check-in kiosks, eight check-in desks, airline offices, and commercial retail spaces are all included in the new terminal building.
The Phase II Project, which was carried out between 2014 and 2016, cost $70 million, a significant decrease from the $110 million spent during Phase I, which involved the extension of the runway by one kilometer, the installation of lights, and partial fencing of the airport.
The Northern Region, well-known for its economic and agricultural endeavors, stands to gain from the airport’s advantageous location within the Sahelian belt, also known as Ghana’s “food basket.” The Tamale International Airport is anticipated to increase tourism, make travel easier for local farmers, and draw travelers from nearby nations.
By utilizing the airport to export fresh agricultural products and create jobs and wealth in the area, the government intends to use it to support the initiatives of the Northern Development Authority (NDA). This improvement in agriculture will also help Northern Ghana’s agro-based industries grow.
Vice President Bawumia expressed the hope that the accomplishment of the project would inspire other service providers to make investments in opportunities like the creation of an Aviation Training Organization (ATO), the development of cargo facilities, and the creation of cold stores for exporting fresh produce.
