The long-anticipated construction of an airport in Ghana’s Upper East Region has gained renewed momentum, with the regional administration reaffirming its commitment to the project.
The move is seen as crucial for unlocking new economic opportunities and strengthening the region’s position in the broader West African context.
In a recent statement, Donatus Atanga Akamugri, the Upper East Regional Minister, emphasized the strategic importance of the region in Ghana’s development plans, particularly given its proximity to the Sahel region.
“The Upper East Region is well-positioned for an airport, which will help open up the area for accelerated development and economic improvement,” Akamugri stated.
The Regional Minister made these comments following a site visit to the proposed location of the Regional Airport in Anateem, a suburb near the Sumbrungu community in the Bolgatanga Municipality.
Accompanied by technical officials from the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL), the purpose of the visit was to assess the site and inform the next steps in the planning process.
The planned airport, which has been in discussion for decades, is poised to become a transformative infrastructure project for the region.
This visit came shortly after President John Dramani Mahama’s “Thank You Tour” of the Bolgatanga area, where he reaffirmed the government’s resolve to ensure the airport project comes to fruition.
During the tour, President Mahama also directed the GACL to begin securing the necessary funding to move the project forward.
While the idea of an airport in the Upper East has been on the table since the late 1970s and early 1980s, with about 2,888.72 hectares of land earmarked for the project, successive governments have failed to bring it to life.
This long delay has left local residents frustrated, with many questioning the government’s commitment to the region’s development.
Despite this historical setback, Mr. Akamugri remains optimistic about the future, citing the several benefits the airport would bring to the region.
BY Issah Olegor
