The President of the Republic of Ghana has pledged to complete the expansion of the Kumasi International Airport by May 2024.
The domestic airport which is already 98% completed has been in operation since 1943.
It is one of the busiest Airports in Ghana serving both domestic and international purposes.
This announcement was made during the 2024 State of Nations Address delivered in parliament on Tuesday, 27th February 2024.
“This will enable the Kumasi International Airport, which is some ninetyeight (98%) complete, to be completed by May.
Other projects like the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Maternity Block in Kumasi, the Takoradi Interchange, the Obetsebi-Lamptey Interchange in Accra, the University of Environment and Sustainable Development Project at Bunso in the Eastern Region, phase two of the construction of roads in Tamale, and the construction of the eighty-four kilometre (84km) railway line between Tema and Akosombo, would also be completed,” the President said.
The performance of SONA is a constitutional duty as prescribed by Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution.
It says, “The President shall, at the beginning of each session of Parliament and before a dissolution of Parliament, deliver to Parliament a message on the state of the nation (SONA).”
The SONA serves as a means to inform the nation about the government’s present economic, political, and social initiatives.
It is also a means by which the President summarizes the accomplishments and plans of his government for the remining period of his term of office.
Kumasi International Airport expansion project details
The expansion project at Kumasi International Airport is being carried out in two phases. A $29m rehabilitation project was carried out under phase one by December 2014. Aeronautical ground lighting systems were installed and the existing runway was rehabilitated under the project.
Ground-breaking for the €66.35m ($75.23m) second phase of the expansion project was held in November 2018. Phase two involves construction of a new passenger terminal and multiple service facilities at the airport. The new terminal will have the capacity to handle more than one million passengers a year upon its completion.
The existing runway will be extended from the current length of 1,981m to 2,300m, enabling the airport to accommodate wide-body aircraft such as Boeing 737-800.
