Minister of Transport Dzifa Attivor has challenged youth of the Northern Region to take advantage of the economic benefits that the upgrade of the Tamale airport to an international standard will bring.

The Minister is in the Northern Regional capital Tamale ahead of preparations for a sod cutting ceremony for the project tomorrow Tuesday, by President John Dramani Mahama.

Already, preparatory works have commenced on the $100-million upgrading and expansion project at the Tamale Airport.

Brazilian contractors, Queiroz Galvao, have tested the soil and taking measurements for the actual physical works to begin.

The contractors have also put finishing touches to their accommodation and office structures, comprising warehouses, a laboratory, a canteen and a medical centre at the Air Force base in Tamale.

The first phase of the project consists of the extension of the runway from the current 2,480 metres to about 3,940 metres and the installation of a complete lighting system to accommodate bigger aircrafts.

The project is expected to be completed in September next year.

The transport Minister said the airport would serve hundreds of Muslims in the northern part of the country and neighbouring countries on their annual pilgrimage to Mecca, while supporting the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) in the export of perishable goods, especially fruits and vegetables, to Europe.

“The North will become the centre of attraction for many businesses for transformation”, the Minister observed.