Ghana has numerous airports, namely: Kotoka International Airport, Kumasi Airport, Sunyani Airport, Tamale Airport, Wa Airport and Ho Airport.
Details on Ghana Airports
Kotoka International Airport
Kotoka International Airport is Ghana’s busiest airport.
It has the capacity to handle 5 million passengers a year, Process 1,250 passengers per hour, Six boarding bridges, A large commercial and retail area, Three business lounges.
Tamale Airport was founded as a main advanced operational base for troops during World War II. The landing strip was acquired at Nyohene, some two miles west of Tamale in December, 1940.
Kotoka International Airport has the capacity to handle 5 million passengers a year, Process 1,250 passengers per hour, Six boarding bridges, A large commercial and retail area, Three business lounges.
Founded
Kotoka International Airport, was originally a military airport used by the British Royal Air Force during World War II in 1946.
Land area
Kotoka International Airport occupies 1610 acres (651 hectares) within the city of Accra.
????????????????????????????????????
Distance of Kotoka International Airport from Accra City Centre
Kotoka International Airport is about 10 kilometres from the City Centre.
Location, coordinates
The reference point co-ordinates are 05° 35’ 47” North Latitude by 000° 10’ 12” West longitude.
K.I.A’s central location in the world, (on the Greenwich Meridian and close to the Equator) makes it easily accessible from any part of the world.
Elevation
Elevation is 63.5m (205 ft).
Kumasi Airport
Kumasi International Airport is a second busiest airport in Ghana after Kotoka International Airport in Accra.
Kumasi Airport serves Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region.
In 2022, the airport handled over 450,000 passengers making it the second busiest airport in the country.
Kumasi International Airport is located 6 kilometres from Kumasi.
It was changed from a military base to an airport in 1999.
The airport has undergone several renovation and expansion projects to help push its status as an international airport.
How it started
Although approval was obtained as far back as 1940, it was not until 1947 that documentation for land acquisition was completed and paid for. However by 1943, Kumasi Airport had been completed.
There were extensive developments in 1958 and 1959 by the Ghana Government on the runway, navigational facilities and human resource to enhance internal airline operations. The installation of runway and taxiway lights and the extension of the main runway to the southern part in the late 1970’s was another major improvement to the Kumasi Airport.
Phase 1
Whilst the lights enhanced night operations, the extension of the runway enabled operations of short haul jets like the F28. The building of a new Terminal and the installation of a VOR/DME commissioned on 1st December 1993 completed the modernization process. In 2003, Kumasi was declared an International Airport primarily for regional operations with the full complement of Security, Customs and Immigration staff.
In December 2014, the newly rehabilitated runway installed with Aeronautical Ground Lighting Systems was inaugurated. This paved the way for domestic airlines to commence night operations..
Currently, Master Plan studies for the airport is on-going. Some projects planned in the next phase include the construction of additional parking aprons, extension of the runway and the construction of a new terminal building.
Phases 2 & 3
Work on the Kumasi Airport Project (Phase 2 & 3) is progressing steadily and the project to date is about 93%. The Project Contractor is Messrs Contracta Construction UK Ltd. The Phase II of the project, which began in 2018, includes the construction of a new terminal building to handle one million passengers per annum, two boarding bridges, a road network, perimeter fence, a substation and parking lot among others. The cost of the Phase II of expansion works on the second busiest airport in Ghana is estimated at £66,350,000.
Phase III of the Kumasi Airport expansion project involves the extension of the existing runway pavement from 1,981 meters to 2,320 meters, construction of new taxi link and two apron parking stands, an Air Traffic Control Building, and a Fire Station among others. The cost for this phase is estimated at £58,900,000.
The Kumasi Airport is currently served by two domestic carriers namely: Africa World Airlines (AWA) and PassionAir.
Sunyani Airport
The airport serves Sunyani, a town and capital of Bono Region mid-western Ghana.
The Sunyani Airport is one of GACL operated airports in Ghana and currently offers domestic air travel to the Bono Region.
How it started
Originally a communication outpost and aerodrome, the Sunyani Airport was built in 1942 for use by the Allied Forces during World War II.
The airstrip was later abandoned before the war ended.
In 1969, the Government initiated the construction of a complete airport for the region and was officially opened on July 13, 1974.
In March 2016, the operations at the Sunyani Airport were halted as a result of safety concerns caused by visible deterioration of the airport’s airside pavements (runway, taxi link and apron).
The closure meant that travellers, especially those of the business community, in the discharge of their socio-economic activities, could only travel in and out of the region by road. Journeys which were usually long, tiresome and stifles business activities.
Project Benefits
Completion of the project works at the Sunyani Airport reinforces the Ghana Airports Company Limited’s vision to be the Preferred Aviation Hub and Leader in Airport Business in West Africa. The upgrades, which have been done to meet set safety and security standards for aircraft landing and take-off by local and international regulators, facilitates the company’s drive to expand its operations to other parts of the country and to boost its revenue generation. Re-opening of the Sunyani Airport will unlock the economic potential of the regional capital, and its environs, and propel socio-economic development in a bustling Sunyani city and across the country.
The GHS52.25 million project works, funded jointly by the Government of Ghana and the GACL, commenced on October 25, 2019 and was expected to be completed in nine months. However, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 case management restrictions and the steady return to normal life, the project works recommenced and was completed in July 2022.
Project Details
The completed project works encompasses the reconstruction and extension of the existing 1,280- meter runway to 1,400-meters, paved and grooved to ensure safe aircraft operations. It also includes rehabilitation of existing taxilink, rehabilitation and upgrade of existing apron, resurfacing of internal roads, minimal renovation of the existing terminal building to process 100 passengers per hour. The terminal building has been fitted with a public address (PA) system, Flight Information Display Systems (FIDS), Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV), fire detection and protection systems, lighting and ventilation systems, Sewage disposal, water storage and distribution for terminal operations.
The Project Consultant, Engineering Services Provision Company Ltd (ESPCo) and the Project Contractor , Resource Access Limited (RAL) together engaged over 14 men and women to work on the project.
The Sunyani Airport was officially commissioned on Wednesday, August 3 2022 by the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at a colorful ceremony.
Tamale Airport
Tamale Airport was founded as a main advanced operational base for troops during World War II. The landing strip was acquired at Nyohene, some two miles west of Tamale in December, 1940.
The Government of the first republic of Ghana approved a plan to build a new international airport to serve the military eleven miles north of Tamale on realizing its strategic position/importance. Although the project got off to a bright start, it was abandoned with the overthrow of the regime in 1966.
However, work on the airport resumed with some modifications to accommodate civil operations. Initially, the airport was manned by the Airforce, however with time assistance was sought from GCAA to provide personnel for telecommunications and to take charge of the RFFS and also Air Traffic Services.
Tamale Airport Development Phase I
Tamale Airport is used for both civil and military operations and for special international flights.
In September 2014, work commenced on the upgrade and expansion of Tamale Airport to International status. The development was in two phases. The first phase involved the upgrade and extension of the runway from 2438m to 3940m, construction of a new Apron and taxilink, rehabilitation of existing apron and the installation of Aeronautical Ground Lighting Systems. The project was commissioned August 2016 to coincide with the first flight for the 2016 Hajj Pilgrimage to Mecca.
Tamale Airport now serves as an alternate to Kotoka International Airport and has capability to handle wide body aircraft in the event of an emergency at KIA.
Tamale Airport Development Phase II
The Tamale Airport expansion works is on-going and expected to be completed by the end of August 2022. The progress of work to date is about 95%. The expansion work is being carried out by Quiroz Galvao (QG) Construction UK Limited.
The Tamale Airport expansion works include the construction of a modern Terminal Building and other necessary Ancillary Facilities.
The scope of works comprises an Expandable Modular Airport Terminal Building designed for Annual Passenger Throughput of 400,000 capacity.
The expected features of the terminal building after completion include a VIP lounge; two Boarding Gates; four self-service check-in Kiosks; eight check-in desks; airline offices; commercial retail areas; a Multi-Purpose Terminal to include Hajj travel facilitation and a 5km Road Network among others.
The cost of the project is estimated at US$70,000,000.The Tamale Airport is currently the third busiest domestic airport in the country for flights originating from Accra’s Kotoka International Airport.
The two main domestic airlines, Africa World Airlines (AWA) and PassionAir, operate daily services with multiple frequencies to the Northern Regional Capital.
Wa Airport
Wa Airport is an airport serving Wa, a city in the Upper West Region of Ghana which is also its capital.
It is the fifth busiest commercial airport in Ghana with over 25,000 passengers passing through in 2022.
The airport is operated by Ghana Airports Company Limited.
The Wa Airport has undergone extensive renovations including the refurbishment of an existing building to make it suitable for terminal operations, rehabilitation of the runway and fencing of the facility to make it suitable and safe for commercial operations.
The airport has a runway length of 2000 meters and a width of 45 metres, thus enhancing its capacity to host medium-sized aircraft.
The operationalization of the Wa Airport in 2019 made it easier to travel to the region.
Currently, PassionAir operates daily flights from Accra.
Ho Airport
Ho Airport is a regional airport built to serve Ho in the Volta Region of Ghana.
The airport covers 1,500 acres (610 ha), with a passenger terminal and a 1,900-metre (6,200 ft) runway.
Ho Airport has a runaway of 1,900 metres in length and 30 metres wide, an aircraft parking area, a terminal building to hold at least 150,000 passengers a year, a VIP and VVIP facility, a parking area for the staff and nine- kilometre network of roads around the airport.
The airport is expected to boost the economy of the Volta Region and promote tourism in the region whiles providing jobs for the people.
The cost of construction was estimated to be US$25 million, provided by Ghana Airports Company Limited.
Construction was completed in 2017, although the airport was not opened to commercial traffic until 2021.
On 18 September 2015, President John Dramani Mahama held a groundbreaking ceremony for Ho Airport.
The construction of the airport is in line with the Ghanaian government’s goal to have airports in each of the country’s regions.
