Anticipation is building as the government prepares to commission the Kumasi Airport, now named the Nana Agyemang Prempeh I International Airport, on May 10, 2024.
President Akufo-Addo will be joined by dignitaries including Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Minister of Transport Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, and Managing Director of the Ghana Airport Company Limited, Yvonne Nana Afiriyie Opare, for the commissioning ceremony.
Following the commissioning, the Kumasi Airport is set to commence full operations by June this year. Under the management of the Ghana Airport Company Limited, the airport is undergoing equipment testing to facilitate both domestic and international flights. With a capacity to handle over 800,000 passengers annually, primarily from the northern and middle belt regions, the airport aims to meet the growing demand for air travel.
Contractors have revealed plans to expand the runway and demolish outdated facilities once the new terminal is operational. Transport Minister Kwaku Ofori Asiamah expressed satisfaction with the project’s progress during a recent inspection tour.
However, concerns regarding the long-term maintenance of the facility were raised. The airport’s importance to the socioeconomic development of the Ashanti Region and Ghana as a whole was emphasized by Minister Asiamah, noting its potential to reduce travel stress for international travelers from various regions.
During a courtesy visit to the Manhyia Palace, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II commended the government for the airport project, foreseeing its positive impact on job creation and the local economy of the Ashanti Region.
Phase II of the project, initiated in 2018, involves constructing a new terminal building capable of handling one million passengers per annum, along with other essential infrastructure.
