The push for the construction of an airport to serve both the Western and Central regions is receiving a further boost with the release of a feasibility report for an airport in either the Central or western region, or between the two regions.
The report has highlighted areas within these two regions suitable to host the new airport.
Receiving the report, the Minister for Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah explained that no concrete decision has been taken on the location for the new airport yet, as the report will now be submitted to cabinet for a decision to be taken.
“No decision has been taken yet. We’re only receiving the report from the consultant who has worked on the feasibility studies.
“A decision on whether one should be built for the two regions, or one for each region will be taken by cabinet after several factors have been considered. After cabinet makes a decision, I will come back to you to communicate the decision to you,” he explained at the meeting to receive the report.
Whilst expressing his satisfaction with the work done by the consultants, Mr. Ofori-Asiamah said the report will inform every potential investor of the viability of the project.
“Government must first approve the site, before we can run it. I think that the report is detailed enough, and it is robust; the integrity of the process is guaranteed that any private sector who want to be come in, and seeing the job that you’ve done will be assured that his/her investment will not go waste,” he said.
According to Ing. Leslie Alex Ayeh, Senior Partner for Ayeh & Ayeh, the consultants who worked on the feasibility studies, constructing the airport will help open the economy, and create jobs for thousands of Ghanaians.
“When connectivity increases, the lifestyle of the people will improve. If you have an international health care center here, it will be easier to get to Ghana. So there is direct correlation between improved connectivity and the standard of living.
“Look, if I build an airport, taxi drivers around make money; those selling other products make money around the airport. Tell me if it were not there, what will drivers do? The drivers may be sleeping in their cars. But by building the airport, hotels, car rentals, etc., you’re generating jobs around the airport. So tell me if this is not important,” he explained.
Sites under consideration
Explaining the details of the report, Ing. Leslie Ayeh revealed that there are six (6) sites under consideration as suitable places where a new airport can be built.
There two (2) sites in the Takoradi area of the Western region; two sites around Komenda area, and two (2) sites around Cape Coast all in the Central region. They are however, proposing that government chooses one of the sites in the Komenda area after the feasibility studies proved that it ticks all the boxes that a suitable site must.
The consultants also explained that they have proposed that the construction must be in three phases if government agrees to build the airport.
