We will deliver airport facilities compared with the best—GACL MD
The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has pledged to deliver world-class airport facilities and service to help position Ghana as the preferred aviation hub and leader in airport business in West Africa.
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The airport company maintained that it would continue to keep the airports safe and secure as well as offer users of the airports a pleasant experience.
The Managing Director (MD) of GACL, Pamela Djamson-Tettey, who said this at the commissioning of the Tamale International Airport, stated that the GACL was committed to provide world-class facilities and services for the benefit of stakeholders.
The new airport
The new Tamale International Airport seeks to galvanise investment and growth across the northern part of the country.
The airport which has now gained international status after the expansion project has been opened to international air travelers.
This follows successful tests and simulation exercises of the project by the Ghana Airport Company Limited.
Work on phase two of the Tamale Airport project commenced in July 2019 and includes the construction of an airport terminal building designed for annual passenger throughput of 400,000, a multi-purpose terminal and other ancillary facilities.
The features of the new terminal building include a VIP lounge; two boarding gates; two self-service check-in kiosks; eight check-in desks; airline offices and commercial retail areas.
As part of the project design, a completely new five-kilometer road network (off the Tamale-Bolgatanga Road) has been constructed to facilitate easy accessibility to the airport.
Additionally, the multi-purpose terminal, which was completed in 2022, was used in facilitating Hajj Pilgrims during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in 2022 and 2023.
The phased development of Tamale Airport is part of an elaborate plan to make the facility an alternate airport to Kotoka International Airport (KIA) with capability to handle wide body aircraft in emergency situations.
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Handing over
Madam Djamson-Tettey indicated that following the handover, the Operational Readiness and Transfer Phase (ORAT) kicked in.
“This involved the testing of equipment and systems, training of personnel and subsequently, the gradual migration of operations from the old to the new terminal,” she said.
She said the objective was to mitigate the risks associated with the transfer of operations.
She commended staff, especially the ORAT team for their dedication, hard work and resilience during the ORAT Phase of the project, making the migration of operations a hitch-free one.
Govt’s vision
The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, stated that the project was part of the government's vision to expand the frontiers of the aviation industry and to make Ghana the Aviation hub within the West African sub-region.
He said the completion of the Tamale International Airport Phase II project and other ancillary facilities was expected to provide the needed impetus for increased economic activity.
He said the new facility would support programmes of Northern Development Authority (NDA) to harness fresh agricultural produce for export, generate employment and create wealth.
He underscored the importance of the location of the airport which was within the sahelien belt as crucial to enhancing access to market for local agricultural produce, enhancing tourism and attracting passengers from neighbouring countries.
Optimism
Dr Bawumia was optimistic that other service providers will leverage the completion of the project to invest in areas such as the establishment of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), cargo facilities, and cold stores for the storage and subsequent export of fresh produce.
He lamented the widespread encroachment on airport lands and the risks it poses to future expansion efforts.
He charged relevant authorities to collaborate to ensure that airport lands were well protected and properly managed for the purposes of future expansion, but most importantly safeguard lives and properties.