Works on the rehabilitation and expansion of the Sunyani Airport is expected to be completed by the end of the year, Managing Director of Ghana Airport Company, Mr. Yaw Kwakwa, said on Monday.

He said 97 percent of work was done, adding that the "contractor is just doing finishing touches on the runway and minor works on the apron."

The rehabilitated airport, he added, could contain about 20 domestic aircraft at the minimum.

Mr. Kwakwa said this while conducting the Deputy Minister of Aviation, Mr. Yaw Afful, round to inspect the progress of work on the facility in Sunyani.

The Managing Director said he was impressed about work done so far, on the 1,520-metre runway, thermal building and the apron.

Speaking to journalists at the newly constructed drop-off area of the airport, Mr. Kwakwa said security cameras will soon be fixed at the thermal building.

Upon completion, he added could only contain domestic airlines but regretted real estate developers had encroached on the airport lands in Sunyani.

That notwithstanding, Mr. Kwakwa indicated the safety of residents around the airport area was guaranteed.

He emphasised the airport would open up and spur the socio-economic development of the Bono Region.

On his part, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Jaman South, Mr. Yaw Afful, also expressed satisfaction and commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the works on the facility.

The Sunyani Airport was officially closed down in 2016 due to the deplorable nature of the runway and auxiliary facilities.