Work on four aerodromes to begin next year

(Published in the Daily Graphic of Friday, November 22, 2013 Page 32) The construction of four aerodromes in the Upper East, Volta, Central and Eastern regions is scheduled to begin early next year. President John Dramani Mahama said the Ghana Airports Authority was finalising the designs for the projects, while the process for the award of the contracts was going on. The President, who announced this yesterday after inspecting the proposed site for the Bolgatanga aerodrome at Anateem, said the construction of the aerodromes would enhance domestic air travel. He said the aerodromes would facilitate the lifting of passengers to and from the beneficiary regions to the other regions. Air travel President Mahama said the aviation industry had picked up in the country, with five companies operating commercial flights. Besides, he said, the number of domestic passengers had also increased astronomically. However, he said due to the absence of airports in the Upper East, Central, Volta and Eastern regions, people who wanted to fly out and those who wanted to go to those regions were compelled to travel to adjoining regions to catch flights. He said the construction of the aerodromes, which was part of the promises contained in the 2012 manifesto of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), would save passengers the trouble of going through adjoining regions before catching flights. President Mahama indicated that the Accra, Kumasi and Sunyani airports would also see major facelift. The President’s visit to the project site formed part of his two-day working visit to the Upper East Region. He also inspected construction works on the Nangodi section of the Bolgatanga-Bawku Road and inaugurated a school facility funded by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for Our Lady of Lourdes Girls' Senior High School in Navrongo. The President’s presence in the region is the second leg of his nation-wide tour. He first visited the Volta Region from November 16-17, 2013.