Accra, Ghana - The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) awarded a grant yesterday, to the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to help create design documents for the construction of the Kotoka International Airport Air Traffic Control Center. The $322,560 grant was signed at the U.S. Embassy in Accra by U.S. Ambassador Donald Teitelbaum and GCAA Director General Air Commodore (Rtd) Kwame Mamphey. It will fund a technical assistance program that will produce technical design drawings for the control center. The technical assistance program will also develop documents necessary for procuring the goods and services required to implement the construction project. Currently, GCAA has selected LPA Group Incorporated, a transportation consulting firm based in Columbia, S.C., to carry out the technical assistance. The technical assistance program builds upon a previous USTDA-funded feasibility study, which provided a preliminary analysis of the equipment and facilities needed to construct the Air Traffic Control Center. The program compliments a separate project USTDA is involved in, which entails refurbishing a passenger terminal at the same airport. Air traffic in Ghana has increased significantly over the past several years due to strong economic growth and the discovery of oil in the country. In order to support the rapid increase in air traffic, Ghana has been expanding its aviation infrastructure, including the Kotoka International Airport. The construction of the Air Traffic Control Center will also improve the capacity of the airport and enhance aviation safety in the region. USTDA Regional Director Paul Marin said the recent USTDA grant symbolizes the Agency’s continued support for Ghana’s aviation sector improvements. “USTDA has been deeply involved with Ghana’s aviation infrastructure projects from an early stage,” Marin said. “Since 2000 we have supported improvements at three different airports in the region, which has had a positive impact on the country’s economy and created business opportunities for U.S. companies.”