The Chief of Tamale, Dakpema Naa Mohammed Alhassan Dawuni, has welcomed news that work on the upgrade of the Tamale Airport to an international status will finally take off this year. The Managing Director of the Ghana Airport Company, Doreen Fianko announced earlier this week work on the upgrade of the airport will commence this year at an estimated cost of $174 million dollars. Speaking in an interview with Joy News Television, the Dakpema said, the Chiefs and people of Tamale will support government and the contractors who will be working on the project to ensure the work is completed on schedule and without hindrance. He however asked that government and contractors working on the project recruit labour from the region to provide employment opportunities to the youth in the area. Naa Dawuni added that the upgrade will help ease the difficulties Hajj pilgrims go through annually. "There will no longer be the need to travel to Accra for departure to Saudi Arabia for Hajj" he stated. The upgrade of the Tamale Regional Airport to an international stature will see an extension in the current 2 thousand meter runway to 4 thousand. There will also be facilities such as hotels, shopping malls and executive offices.