Govt raises $50m to rehabilitate Kotoka International Airport

Accra, June 3, GNA - Alhji Collins Dauda Minister of Transport on Thursday said the third phase of the Kotoka International Airport rehabilitation would cost government $50,920,531.24.

He said the work which was on-going included reconstruction of the taxiway the main passenger apron, installation of aeronautical ground lighting on taxiway and main passenger apron, construction of apron drainage, rehabilitation of runway touchdown zone, provision of pavement management system and the construction of a new fire station. Alhaji Dauda who was speaking during question time in parliament said: "Am happy to report that the construction of the Fire Station has been completed and is awaiting (inauguration)."


He said for the rest of the components, the contractor was mobilising to commence construction by the end of June 2011. Alhaji Dauda said in addition to the on going projects, three international boarding gates have been constructed bringing the total of th= e boarding gates to five.


Refurbishing and upgrading of the domestic terminal for international departures during peak hours and the construction of seven additional aircraft packing stands, he said had been initiated and were at the various stages of completion.


"The re-roofing of the international terminal building and water sup= ply improvement works are also on-going," he said, adding that plans were als= o underway to improve the power supply and the baggage handling systems. Touching on the domestic airports, the Minister said the process to carry out work on the runways at the Kumasi and Sunyani Airports was underway.

He said Government had initiated financing arrangements to support the rehabilitation of the Kumasi, Sunyani and Takoradi Airports at the sum of $122 million.


The Minister said government was making efforts to rehabilitate the damaged mending jetty at the Tema Canoe basin.


He indicted that on November 19, 2010 the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority advertised for tenders for the reconstruction of the net mending jetty, which according to him closed on January 2011. Alhaji Dauda said currently, only DDMMI of Belgium and FNB Investments of Ghana submitted bids which were going through the evaluation process. He said by the end of July the contract would be awarded.