The Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company Limited has announced that the newly constructed Terminal 3 of the Kotoka International Airport will become fully operational on September 15.

This will be ahead of its official inauguration by President Akufo-Addo on October 2.

John Dekyem Attafuah said, "Last Monday we started live flights from this airport, we had four flights on Monday, four airlines used here but for Emirates, for example, they came in went to Abidjan and came back in.

Mr Attafuah added, "So that's what we have and today We have had our first arrivals to this terminal and so far all our systems have worked as we had expected and we are very confident that come the 15th of September, we should not have any problems and challenges."

Passenger numbers

The new terminal is expected to handle up to five million passengers a year, with an expansion potential of up to 6.5 million passengers.

At peak hour, the terminal will have the capacity to process up to about 1,250 passengers. A fully automated baggage handling system will also handle 3,500 bags an hour.

The facility will also hold a large retail and commercial area, three business lounges, six fixed links and seven air bridges expandable to eight, and parking space with capacity to handle more than 700 cars.

The airport expansion supports the government's ambition to make Ghana a regional aviation hub.

Details

KIA’s Terminal 3 is a monumental feat of engineering.  It has five levels spread across 45,000 square meters and has parking space for 700 cars.

It has six contact stands for Code E aircraft and two remote stands.

At the Departure level, it has 56 check-in desks, 30 passport control centres and eight security lanes.

At the Arrival level, it has 24 immigration counters, four e-gate positions [expandable to eight] and four reclaim devices.

The terminal is equipped with a fully automated baggage handling system to handle both destination and transit luggage at 3,5OO bags an hour.

It has been constructed on a design and build basis by Turkish construction company, Mapa Construction MNH Holdings.

Watch the video below for a tour of the facility: