The Aviation Minister has inspected on-going construction works on the phase two of the Kumasi Airport Project, pledging to move quickly to bring it to international standards.

Cecilia Abena Dapaah said the vision was to end the present situation where people from Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo Regions, could fly to London only by using the Kotoka International Airport.

This would have to change – there should be Kumasi-Accra-London direct flights.

Not only that, people would not have to travel all the way from Tamale to Accra to board a flight to London. They should be able to fly directly from Tamale.

The runway of the Kumasi Airport is being extended to allow the facility to land large aircraft. Added to this is the construction of modern arrival and departure halls alongside waiting rooms.

Madam Dapaah, accompanied by the Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah and his Deputy, Elizabeth Agyemang, the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Osei Asibey Antwi and officials of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), also inspected the gliding slope and instrument landing system.

She acknowledged that airport could not yet be described as “international” but said, “we would soon get there” promising that airports and airstrips across the nation would be upgraded to help open Ghana up for business.

They would be doing this mindful of the need for safety and to assure everybody of a more friendly air navigation services.

Madam Dapaah also hinted that encroachers on lands belonging to the CAA would be relocated.

The Kumasi Airport phase two project has been awarded to the Brazilian Company, Contrata Engenharia, the contractors undertaking the Kejetia Redevelopment Project.