The Aviation Ministry has finally settled on the Shama District for the construction of an ultra-modern international airport to serve the Western and Central Regions of Ghana.
The decision was communicated by the Minister for Aviation, Cecelia Dapaah to the Western Region Minister Dr Kwaku Afriyie, the District Chief Executive for Shama, Joseph Amoah, and the Acting Paramount Queen Mother of Shama Traditional area, who doubles as the Queen Mother for Nyanikrom Nana Akosua Gyamfiaba on Wednesday, March 7th, 2018.
Speaking to Beachfmonline on the sidelines, Mrs. Dapaah explained the ministry after some inspection and assessment of landscapes within the two regions have identified a more suitable land size along the borders of the regions. She contends the area identified is well positioned and suitable for the project, as compared to that of Princess Town, which they inspected in June last year.
“We brought in the technical men to advise us as to the suitability of the land. As you are aware we came here last year to look at the land close to Princess Town. It wasn’t suitable because of the swampy nature of it. But this one is,” she said.
The land previously allocated for the same project, at Princess Town in the Ahanta West District was about 8,000 acres. But the newly proposed land spans across the Kafodidi community in the Komenda Edina- Eguafo Abrem District of the central region, and Fawomanye and Awona Beach, all in the Shama District of the Western Region.
A total land mark of 45 kilometers is expected to undertake that project, but in the meantime, Mrs. Dapaah stressed, they will impresse on the chiefs in these areas to commit a 5km land mark for the project.
“I think the chiefs are prepared to grant us which ever acreage we want. So we are immediately looking at 5km”.
She adds that funding is being sought for the project whilst technocrats undertake a thorough assessment of the topography and other attributes of the area.
Acting Paramount Queen Mother of Shama Traditional area, Nana Akosua Gyamfiaba, charged the government to comply with provisions of the local content law, by offering greater opportunities to residents in the area to work on the project, so as to improve their livelihood and the local economy.
“Our people need to be guaranteed jobs if the project starts. We wont take lightly any attempt to hire the services of people outside the communities where the project will be sited. We need better jobs. We are not interested in this labourer works. Make it a condition that people from the Shama, Western and Central Regions could be well placed in terms of employment at the Airport. That is the local content we all are fighting for”.
Kojo Ennimil Arthur|Beachfmonline.com|Ghana
