Sumbrungu Airstrip to become airport

Paga (U-E/R), Nov. 20, GNA - The Aviation Ministry is to form a technical committee to examine the Sumbrungu Airstrip near Bolgatanga, to determine whether it would be suitable for development into an Airport, Ms Gloria Afua Akuffo, Minister of Aviation announced on Tuesday.

The Airstrip, which was constructed in the early 1990s showed signs of depression, allowing water to stagnate, with protrusions of laterite despite intensive rock blasts at the site during construction. Ms Akuffo was on a tour of the Upper East Region to inspect landing sites to be used for next year's Ghana 2008 football tournament, especially the Sumbrungu and Paga airstrips.

She said if the Sumbrungu Airstrip proved unsuitable a new site would be located in the Region for the construction of an airport.

"We want to open up the country for tourism and boost the huge development potential so we need something bigger and more permanent and a sizeable Airport would be best", she said. Ms Akuffo also inspected the Paga Airstrip and said it was in good condition and would be used for the meantime for emergency landings. She said even though the Paga Airstrip had a good landscape, it could not be used for commercial purposes because it was too near to Burkina Faso. She urged the Kassena Nankana District Chief Executive, Mr Emmanuel Chegeweh to ensure that the Airstrip was gravelled for use in times of urgent need.

Mr Alhassan Samari, Upper East Regional Minister, who accompanied the Aviation Minister and her entourage, said the Regional Coordinating Council would provide the needed assistance for the Airport project. The team had earlier paid courtesy calls on the Bolga Naba, Naba Martin Abilba III and the Paga Pio, Pe Charles Awia Awampaga.