New airport for Prampram

Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the China Airports Construction Corporation (CACC) to undertake a feasibility study for construction of a new international airport near Prampram in the Greater Accra Region, Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister of Transport, has said. “Acquisition of a 16,000-acre land for the new airport near Prampram in the Dangbe East district is in progress,” he said. Alhaji Dauda was speaking at the meet-the-press series in Accra about developments in the aviation sub-sector. The need for a second international airport became more pronounced following the incident when an Allied Air Cargo plane overshot the runway of the only international Airport in the country -- Kotoka International Airport -- and because of the growing air traffic. The country’s aviation industry, with an average annual growth of 10 percent, is one of the fastest-growing and the most competitive in the West Africa sub-region -- spurred on by strong economic growth. The number of carriers has grown from 15 in 2000 to 40 this year. Additionally, projections by the Ghana Airports Company Limited show that air-passenger traffic is expected to hit six million by 2015. This represents an expected increase of more than 200 percent over the total passenger throughput of 1.8 million recorded in 2011. For the first-half of this year, according to Alhaji Dauda, a one million international passenger throughput was recorded. It has been predicted that Accra and Lagos will be aviation “mega-cities” come 2030 -- with the two destinations handling more than 10,000 daily long-haul passengers. This presents an opportunity for the country to construct a new international airport to take the pressure off the KIA. The GACL is undertaking extension and renovation works at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) as well as Kumasi and Sunyani airports. The Tamale Airport has also been earmarked to be developed into an international airport to serve the northern half of the country, Under the Tamale airport project, estimated to cost US$174million, the runway -- which is currently 2,500 metres long -- will be extended to 4,000 metres. Ancillary constructions will include a perishable cargo centre to serve the Sahelien region of Africa, a Hajj terminal, an airport city, and a regional maintenance bay. The GACL has said some Brazilian investors have expressed interest in building the Tamale International Airport and that discussions are on-going. Government has also indicated that it is considering a Public Private Partnership (PPP) for renovation and extension works on some of the domestic airports. There is also the planned construction of greenfield airports at Princess Town in the Western Region and Ankaful in the Central Region, estimated to cost about US$500million. Alhaji Dauda also disclosed that the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL), per a new legislation soon to be presented to Parliament for consideration, is to become an Authority imbued with the powers to make bye-laws. The new Airport Bill, when passed, will also make it possible for the GACL to enjoy tax exemptions. B&FT