Discover The $300 Million Kumasi International Airport.
Before Tamale International Airport, Kumasi Airport, which serves Kumasi, the capital of the
Ashanti Region in Ghana, is the busiest municipal airport in Ghana. Kumasi is roughly 3.5 kilometers
from the airport. Although approval was gained in 1940, the documentation for land acquisition
was not finalized and paid for until 1947. Kumasi Airport, on the other hand, had been finished by
1943. The Ghana government invested heavily in the runway, navigational infrastructure,
and personnel resources in 1958 and 1959 to improve internal airline operations. In
the late 1970s, the Kumasi Airport saw another major upgrade with the installation of runway
and taxiway lights, as well as the extension of the main runway to the southern end.
While the lights improved night operations, the runway expansion allowed short-haul
planes like the F28 to fly. The renovation effort was finished with the construction
of a new Terminal and the installation of a VOR/DME, which was commissioned on December 1,
1993. Kumasi International Airport was designated as an international airport in 2003,
primarily for regional operations, with full security, customs, and immigration employees. The
freshly renovated runway with Aeronautical Ground Lighting Systems was inaugurated in December 2014.
Domestic airlines were able to start operating at night as a result of this. The airport's Master
Plan is currently being studied. Additional parking aprons, runway expansion, and the
construction of a new terminal building, all of which are expected to cost around $300 million,
are among the projects planned for the next phase. Stay with us as we take a tour through the Kumasi
international Airport. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah,
Ghana's Minister of Transport, has announced that the ongoing Kumasi International Airport
expansion project is on pace to be completed this year and open for operation as early as next year.
The development of a new passenger terminal with a capacity of more than one million passengers
per year is the second phase of the Kumasi International Airport expansion project. The third
phase of the project's scope of work, on the other hand, includes the construction of a 2,5522m2
terminal building addition, a new fire station, a new fire access road, and a new air control tower.
A 9,000m2 parking park extension, a 4,200m2 access road extension, and two new boarding
bridges are among the other projects. A 7,731m2 apron expansion, a 202,805m2 runway strip, and
an airside service road are included in the scope of construction on the airside. On the occasion
of the unveiling of the Kumasi International Airport expansion project, Asiamah revealed that
the Kumasi Airport City project was well underway. He said he had authorized the Ghana Civil Aviation
Authority to begin feasibility studies for the project, and that the Ministry of Transportation
will soon release the specifications and designs for the essential facilities, as well as the cost.
President Nana Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the airport's second phase expansion in June 2018.
The $300 million project included the extension of the runway from 1,981 meters to
2,300 meters to accommodate Boeing 737-800s,
the construction of a new two-story ultra-modern terminal, the addition of additional aprons,
restaurants, shopping, and parking areas, and the construction of a ring road around the airport.
The new terminal is expected to be able to accommodate one million passengers per year.
The expansion project was part of the government's multi-modal transportation
system for the Ashanti Region, which aims to boost tourism. The Ashanti regional capital of
Kumasi is the busiest domestic destination, with both PassionAir and Africa World Airlines serving
it (AWA). Between Accra and Kumasi, for example, PassionAir and AWA offer 20 flights every day.
According to industry data, 16,499 passengers flew between the two locations in 2019.
Tourism in the Ashanti Region. Tourism in Kumasi's Ashanti region
accounts for a significant portion of the airport's operations. This is by far one of
the country's most popular regions, recognized for its rich culture, tradition, and gold.
Even today, the ancient kingdom of Asante remains a renowned tourist destination.
Tourist Attractions in Ashanti Region in clude
Manhyia Palace This palace was the seat
of power of the highest chief of the Asante kingdom, Asantehene. It is located in Kumasi,
the capital of the Ashanti Region. Bonwire Kente Weaving Village
It is no news that Africans put a whole lot of their resources on fashion and
Ghana is no exception. Kente, for instance, is a fabric made and worn by Ghanaians for special
occasions and events. Kejetia Market
This is without a doubt one of Africa's largest markets. It is estimated that there are at
least 11,000 stalls and that 40,000 people work there. It is distinguished by a large number of
brown roofs that can be seen from afar. There are various items and goods for sale there.
Ntonso Adinkra Village The printing of Adinkra fabric takes
place in Ntonso. The prints are created with dyes and calabash stamps. At the Ntonso Visitor Center,
you'll learn about the people's history, their crafts, and how to produce prints.
Lake Bosumtwi The lake was formed
when an ancient meteorite hit in the Ashanti Region. A hunter is supposed to have discovered
the lake after chasing an antelope into it. It's thought that the lake took in the antelope in an
attempt to save it from the hunter. That is why the lake is still known as Antelope God Lake.
Because of this, the Ashants consider the lake to be exceedingly sacred. The settlements that
surround the lake are home to over 70,000 people. With an estimated population of four million
people, the Ashanti Region is the most populated and one of the fastest-growing regions in Ghana.
This is one of the main reasons why the population of the Kumasi International Airport is growing by
the day, necessitating expansion. Thank you for tuning in. If you found this video interesting,
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