After being neglected since 1995 as a modern airport, the Bolgatanga Airport which according to many would transform the Upper East Region when completed has been abandoned after attempts by previous governments to rehabilitate it.
President John Dramani Mahama in 2013 visited the site and promised to work on it.
President John Dramani Mahama in 2013 visited the site and promised to work on it.
The former Upper East Region Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Laminu Lamuna, together with some engineers visited the proposed site last year for further inspections but nothing has been done.
The project was started in 1995 to construct a regional airport in the Upper East Region as a way of increasing the number of airports in the country and also effectively connect one region to the other to boost socio- economic activities.
The Bolgatanga Airport experts observe will help the people of the Upper East Region in the area of infrastructure, education, huge business investments, recreation, easy exportation of goods and services and other sectors of the economy.
The runway of 60 meters width and a length of 2 kilometers were started by two contractors, who abandoned the project at 82 per cent completion stage.
Site clearance, excavation, provision of drains, laying of surface were part of the works until it was abandoned.
Currently, the regional branch of the Ghana Highways Authority after thorough test have increased the width of the runway to 120 meters and the length to 3.5 kilometers to meet international standards.
According to the regional maintenance engineer of the Ghana Highways Authority, Paul Bortieh, the site is suitable for the airport project and needs to be developed immediately to avoid land depreciation.
He said the final cost of constructing the airport will soon be known when the final assessment is carried out “but we are still waiting”.
In the past, several youth groups and civil society organizations including BONABOTO, SUMBRUNGU YOUTH ASSOCIATION, NORPRA have called on the construction of the airport but their calls have fallen on deaf ears.
The road leading to the site has already developed some cracks including broken down culverts as a result of erosion and sand winning by residents making travel very difficult and will be worse if the rains set in.
The project was started in 1995 to construct a regional airport in the Upper East Region as a way of increasing the number of airports in the country and also effectively connect one region to the other to boost socio- economic activities.
The Bolgatanga Airport experts observe will help the people of the Upper East Region in the area of infrastructure, education, huge business investments, recreation, easy exportation of goods and services and other sectors of the economy.
The runway of 60 meters width and a length of 2 kilometers were started by two contractors, who abandoned the project at 82 per cent completion stage.
Site clearance, excavation, provision of drains, laying of surface were part of the works until it was abandoned.
Currently, the regional branch of the Ghana Highways Authority after thorough test have increased the width of the runway to 120 meters and the length to 3.5 kilometers to meet international standards.
According to the regional maintenance engineer of the Ghana Highways Authority, Paul Bortieh, the site is suitable for the airport project and needs to be developed immediately to avoid land depreciation.
He said the final cost of constructing the airport will soon be known when the final assessment is carried out “but we are still waiting”.
In the past, several youth groups and civil society organizations including BONABOTO, SUMBRUNGU YOUTH ASSOCIATION, NORPRA have called on the construction of the airport but their calls have fallen on deaf ears.
The road leading to the site has already developed some cracks including broken down culverts as a result of erosion and sand winning by residents making travel very difficult and will be worse if the rains set in.
Source: Tanko Rabiu Mohammed||TV3network.com, Bolgatanga
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