Paulina Opoku-Gyimah says: As a ‘one’ functional city
status nation --Ghana was lagging behind the likes of South Africa and even
Nigeria which not only boosts Lagos but Abuja; but if reports reaching moi are
true then that’s all about to change (mercy).
I don’t know if I Adam and Eve it ----as numerous talks
of a this and that and even talks of ‘Sunshine’ Malls and what- have-yous over
the years have proved false (or delayed chop sika stylee wink, wink) but it
seems that Kumasi’s airport is to be upgraded, turned into an international
airport with hotels, commercial and residential hubs and wait for
it……………………………………… a mega shopping mall.
I really hope and pray that this is true. We can no
longer afford to be an overcrowded, prone to cholera outbreaks ---one city
state. Just the daily migration of northern Ghanaians –alone, never mind our
brothers and sisters and their children and life stock (mercy) from Chad and
Niger on mass exodus --- into Accra is forcing the little resources in Accra to
breaking point.
Anyway, I’m going to investigate further and will keep
you(s) in the loop…xx
The development of the Kumasi airstrip into an
international airport will cost the government 300 million dollars and will
take 36 months to complete.
The project which has already taken off as promised by
the city’s new mayor will involve the refurbishment of the terminal as well as
the improvement of the runway.
It would also include the construction of hotels,
restaurants, a conference hall and a massive car park.
P.s I wrote the above text two weeks ago and the following is what I found today as I
was going to upload the above.....
Work to upgrade the Kumasi Airport to international standard by the end of 2015 has commenced.
The project, valued at about $300 million, would see the construction of a new two-storey ultra-modern terminal, restaurants, shopping and parking areas, and a ring road around the airport.
Currently, upgrading work on the existing runway and some related works are in progress. A new runway will be added in due course, after which flights can take off and land in the night.
Mrs Doreen Owusu-Fianko, the Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company, who made this known in Kumasi last Thursday, said possibly, by next year when the Ghana Immigration Service and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority set up their offices at the airport, the facility would be technically declared an international airport.
She stated these when consultants to the new terminal project, Avanti Architects Limited, introduced the final drawings for the project to the media in Kumasi.
The terminal project would be financed with internally generated funds (IGF) of the Ghana Airports Company and the private sector.
Stressing on the importance of the Kumasi airport to national development, the MD said the need to transform the airport to international standards was necessary, adding, “This is a very important project for the country.”
She also said the passenger traffic at the Kumasi airport, which presently stood at 14,000 a month, would increase to about five million annually when the airport attained international status.
Mrs Owusu-Fianko said the upgrading of the airport was in line with the company’s move to make Kumasi “an airport city.”
She appealed to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to play its role in making the project a reality.
An architect, Mr Michael Jumu, said the international airport would also depict “the tradition and culture of the people of Ashanti.” He was also confident that the project would be carried out on schedule.
The KMA Chief Executive, Mr Kojo Bonsu, expressed his determination to do everything possible to get the project completed on time.
He said upgrading Kumasi airport would be a massive step to change the development of Kumasi and attract investors.
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu
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