Sunyani, Nov. 21, GNA - Mr Joe Baidoe-Ansah, Minister of Aviation on Thursday announced in Sunyani that Parliament has given approval for 122 million dollars for the rehabilitation of airports in Sunyani, Kumasi and Takoradi.
Speaking during a courtesy call on Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, the Aviation Minister said the amount would be provided by the government for GK Airports of Korea.
Mr Baidoe-Ansah, who is MP for Efia-Kwesimintsim was on a one-day visit to Brong Ahafo to ascertain the state of the airport in Sunyani and the site of a proposed airport at Nsoatre in Sunyani West District. "We have the funding now for the rehabilitation of Sunyani airport and I am also here to ensure the security of the (six-square mile square) land provided by the chiefs and people of Nsoatre for the future airport," he said.
Works at the Sunyani airport would include the remodelling of the terminal lounge and the control tower, reconstruction of the 1,400 metres runway and the aprons, rehabilitation of the fire station and the construction of a security fence around the airport. Other works will be the installation of aeronautical ground lighting (consisting runway edge lights), precision approach path indicators, which guide aircraft when landing both day and night, as well as the reconstruction of existing access roads and the installation of fire hydrants and water storage systems and other equipment that would facilitate the take off of aircraft.
Mr Baffour-Awuah in a remarks expressed regret about the low patronage of air travel among the people especially to Accra, and appealed to them to change, especially the business people so that the investment being made in the rehabilitation of the airport would yield dividends.
Later during an inspection of the airport Mr Baidoe-Ansah expressed concern about the state of the tarmac, which has gaping potholes and remarked that his visit was to inform the chiefs and people about the government's determination to ensure that Sunyani had a good airport. The last time the Sunyani airport was given a facelift was in 1974. The Aviation Minister was accompanied on his inspection of the airport by Mrs Esi Annor Sackey, Managing Director of Ghana Airports Company Limited, Mr George K. Scott, Chief Director of the Ministry and officials of Civil Aviation Authority and the Regional Co-rdinating Council.
At a meeting with the chiefs and people of Odumase Number One and Two on whose land the airport is located, the Minister thanked them for their patience and restraint over the years in view of unpaid compensation to them.
"This is a new relationship that will ensure that you receive the due compensation for the land and the realization of the need for a fitting airport that would be of immense benefit to the people," he said in response to an appeal by Nana Kwame Korang 1V, Omanhene of Awua Domase.
Nana Korang also complained about the wanton encroachment of the airport land and called for a proper demarcation of the airport land area to stem the problem.
At Nsoatre the Minister met the elders of the town led by Nana Baffour Gyamfi Awuah, Ankobeahene, who stressed that the proposed airport in the area was dear to their hearts. He gave the assurance that there was no serious encroachment on the allocated land area.
He however wished that the government would expedite action on the project and suggested that giant signboards be erected on the land to ward off potential encroachers. Mr. Baidoe-Ansah and his entourage later inspected the site for the future airport located along the Sunyani-Nsoatre highway road. 21 Nov. 08
Sunyani, Nov. 21, GNA - Mr Joe Baidoe-Ansah, Minister of Aviation on Thursday announced in Sunyani that Parliament has given approval for 122 million dollars for the rehabilitation of airports in Sunyani, Kumasi and Takoradi.
Speaking during a courtesy call on Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, the Aviation Minister said the amount would be provided by the government for GK Airports of Korea.
Mr Baidoe-Ansah, who is MP for Efia-Kwesimintsim was on a one-day visit to Brong Ahafo to ascertain the state of the airport in Sunyani and the site of a proposed airport at Nsoatre in Sunyani West District. "We have the funding now for the rehabilitation of Sunyani airport and I am also here to ensure the security of the (six-square mile square) land provided by the chiefs and people of Nsoatre for the future airport," he said.
Works at the Sunyani airport would include the remodelling of the terminal lounge and the control tower, reconstruction of the 1,400 metres runway and the aprons, rehabilitation of the fire station and the construction of a security fence around the airport. Other works will be the installation of aeronautical ground lighting (consisting runway edge lights), precision approach path indicators, which guide aircraft when landing both day and night, as well as the reconstruction of existing access roads and the installation of fire hydrants and water storage systems and other equipment that would facilitate the take off of aircraft.
Mr Baffour-Awuah in a remarks expressed regret about the low patronage of air travel among the people especially to Accra, and appealed to them to change, especially the business people so that the investment being made in the rehabilitation of the airport would yield dividends.
Later during an inspection of the airport Mr Baidoe-Ansah expressed concern about the state of the tarmac, which has gaping potholes and remarked that his visit was to inform the chiefs and people about the government's determination to ensure that Sunyani had a good airport. The last time the Sunyani airport was given a facelift was in 1974. The Aviation Minister was accompanied on his inspection of the airport by Mrs Esi Annor Sackey, Managing Director of Ghana Airports Company Limited, Mr George K. Scott, Chief Director of the Ministry and officials of Civil Aviation Authority and the Regional Co-rdinating Council.
At a meeting with the chiefs and people of Odumase Number One and Two on whose land the airport is located, the Minister thanked them for their patience and restraint over the years in view of unpaid compensation to them.
"This is a new relationship that will ensure that you receive the due compensation for the land and the realization of the need for a fitting airport that would be of immense benefit to the people," he said in response to an appeal by Nana Kwame Korang 1V, Omanhene of Awua Domase.
Nana Korang also complained about the wanton encroachment of the airport land and called for a proper demarcation of the airport land area to stem the problem.
At Nsoatre the Minister met the elders of the town led by Nana Baffour Gyamfi Awuah, Ankobeahene, who stressed that the proposed airport in the area was dear to their hearts. He gave the assurance that there was no serious encroachment on the allocated land area.
He however wished that the government would expedite action on the project and suggested that giant signboards be erected on the land to ward off potential encroachers. Mr. Baidoe-Ansah and his entourage later inspected the site for the future airport located along the Sunyani-Nsoatre highway road. 21 Nov. 08
