The Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, has visited the proposed site for the construction of the long-awaited Upper East Regional Airport.
Accompanied by a technical team from the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), the Minister assessed the readiness of the site and reiterated the government’s commitment to delivering the project.
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The visit comes weeks after President John Dramani Mahama, during his “Thank You Tour” of the region, reaffirmed his pledge to build the airport under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, with support from gold mining companies in the area.
The President emphasized that the airport would not only boost tourism and trade but also facilitate the safe airlifting of gold bullion to Accra.
The Upper East Region has been without a functional airport, despite repeated promises by successive governments.
Naba Yelzoya Kosom Asaga II, spokesperson for the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs, recently stressed the urgency of the project, stating, “Upper East Region is an old region and deserves to have an airport… We want to be able to fly from Accra to Bolgatanga, from Kumasi to Bolgatanga.”
The community had released over 7,000 acres of land in Sumbrungu for the project in the 1970s, but delays have left the site unused, displacing farmers and destroying livelihoods.
Wisdom Ahadzie, Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), highlighted the airport’s potential to transform the region’s tourism sector.
Despite attractions like the Paga Crocodile Pond and Tongo Hills, poor road networks and lack of direct flights have hindered visitor access.
“The airport will address one of the biggest challenges—accessibility—and open doors for economic growth,” Ahadzie noted, according to A1radioonline.
Mr Akamugri’s inspection signals momentum for the project, aligning with President Mahama’s directive to GACL to secure funding.
The government has also prioritized complementary infrastructure, such as road upgrades and the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam, to maximize the airport’s impact.
