Everything you need to know about the $300 million Kumasi Airpot.
When people think of Africa, images of lions, elephants, and other wild animals usually
come to mind.
But what most people don’t realize is that Africa is home to some of the oldest civilizations
in the world.
There are many places where you can still see the remnants of a once-thriving culture.
These are interesting facts about the history and culture of Ancient Ghana that you probably
don’t know.
The ancient Kingdom of Wagadugu existed between the fifth and twelfth centuries, long before
the modern state of Ghana was established.
The kingdom covered roughly 200,000 square miles across what is now Northern Senegal,
Western Mali and Western Niger.
The ancient kingdom of Ghana is often referred to as “the first great empire of Black Africa”
and the last major gold-producing region in Africa before the arrival of Europeans.
The Ashanti Region is the most populous and one of the fastest-growing regions in Ghana
with an estimated population of 4 million.
Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital, has historically been an important reference for
the use of Adinkra symbols and craftsmanship.
With sprawling vegetation cover, the city is an important tourist destination noted
for its commerce, mining and handicrafts.
The lush rainforests, golden beaches, and ancient temples are just a few of the things
that make exploring this country so thrilling.
Over the past two decades, there has been rapid growth in commercial activities in the
city, chiefly because of its ideal location in the middle belt of the country.
But wherever you go, there are sure to be a few roadblocks along the way.
Getting to Ghana with luggage, a passport, and all necessary documentation can be quite
difficult at times.
That’s why having an insider’s look at the various airports in Ghana can help you
plan your trip.
The KUMASI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT located in Kumasi is operated by the Government of Ghana.
The airport offers international and domestic aviation services to passengers in the Ashanti
region and nearby areas.
It is regarded as one of the busiest international airports in the country.
Known for its regional airline operations, the airport is undergoing an expansion to
transform it into a full-fledged international airport.
In this video, we will explore everything you need to know about the $300 million Kumasi
Airpot.
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Kumasi Airport is a national airport in Ghana serving Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti
Region.
The construction of Kumasi airport was approved in 1940 and it was not until 1947 that documentation
for land acquisition was completed and paid for.
However, by 1943, Kumasi Airport had been completed and operations were started.
Airside operations at the airport were streamlined by the Ghanaian government with a series of
development activities carried out on the runway between 1958 and 1959.
The airport underwent main renovations such as the installation of lights on the taxiway
and extension of the runway southwards during the 1970s.
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.
The airport served as a military base until it was converted into a domestic airport in
1999.
It was declared as an international airport primarily for regional operations with the
full complement of Security, Customs and Immigration staff in 2003.
The Kumasi Airport has undergone several rehabilitation and upgrades to become help ensure its status
as an international airport.
In 2008, renovation works were done by Bans Consult limited at the airport including the
rehabilitation of the arrival and departure halls, the control room, rescue and fire station
and the construction of a VIP Lounge ahead of the African Cup of Nations 2008 (CAN 2008)
which Ghana was hosting.
In 2012, initial renovation work on the existing facilities began, including patching and filling
cracks on the main runway, building an additional waiting room, and constructing a car park
to prepare for future renovation and upgrades planned for the following year.
In 2013, the Ghanaian government began a phased development of the Kumasi Airport to provide
the necessary infrastructure for safe domestic and international operations, ensuring passenger
safety and comfort while ensuring Ghana had a fully functional international airport alongside
Kotoka International Airport.
The first phase of work to upgrade Kumasi Airport to international standards was supposed
to be finished by the end of 2014.
The first phase involved repairing the damaged runway and installing airfield lights and
aeronautical ground lights on the runway to improve nighttime operations at the airport.
The launch of Phase 1 in December 2014 was marked by a historic first-night landing by
then-President John Dramani Mahama.
An Instrument Landing System (ILS) was previously installed to assist pilots during takeoff
and landing.
By November 2016, plans had been made to begin work on phase 2, which would cost around €65
million.
The project would primarily consist of the construction of a new two-story ultra-modern
terminal of 7,000 square metres of space based on a 400 passenger per hour capacity and an
annual passenger traffic forecast of 1,500,000, parking areas, and a ring road around the
airport.
The structure also houses VVIP and VIP lounges, restaurants, commercial areas, three boarding
gates, a central screening system for passengers, an IATA standard baggage handling system,
and airline company offices.
The expansion project is part of the government's multi-modal transportation system to boost
tourism in the Ashanti Region.
In recent years, the airport has seen a steady increase in passenger traffic.
The expansion will also meet rising demand by increasing capacity for international passengers.
The airport handled over 400,000 passengers in 2021, making it Ghana's second busiest
airport after Kotoka International Airport in Accra.
President John Dramani Mahama, along with a representative of the Asantehene, Otumfuo
Osei Tutu II, Asafohene Acheamfuo Kwame Akowuah, cut the sod in December 2016 for work to begin
on the second phase of the Kumasi Airport project by Engenhiria Ltd.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cut another sod in June 2018 for the second phase
of Kumasi Airport expansion, which is expected to be completed in 24 months.
The runway will be extended from 1,981 metres to 2,300 metres, and a new terminal building
with a capacity of 1 million passengers per year will be built.
The Ghanaian Parliament approved a €58.9 million budget for the first phase of the
Kumasi Airport development in April 2019.
Phase 3 includes a terminal building expansion, a fire station, fire access routes, and an
air control tower.
The third phase also includes an expansion of the parking lot and access roads, an apron
extension, a runway strip, and an airside service road.
The second and third phases are currently underway and are expected to be completed
in 30 months.
The appropriateness and general quality of building materials were taken into consideration
based on their merits as part of a recent development plan to construct a new 10,000m2
airport terminal.
The new terminal will need to hold up over time under heavy annual foot traffic because
it is planned to serve an additional 800,000 passengers annually.
The client places a high priority on the building's construction using the best building materials
available and in accordance with cutting-edge standards.
The project, which was slated to begin in 2022, is a component of a significant investment
Ghana-wide in the nation's air and road infrastructure.
The Auramix 740SR from Fosroc was one of the essential products chosen for the project.
The client was already confident in the calibre of Fosroc's concrete admixtures due to the
company's well-known and trusted brand, and the special high-performance strength retention
properties of Auramix 740SR would give the contractor much-needed extra time to complete
crucial concrete pours for essential construction components.
Auramix 740SR, in particular, is a special blend of polycarboxylate polymers that exhibits
superior dispersion performance.
Fosroc Auramix 740SR has been specially formulated to give retention of workability for up to
4 hours and to delay absorption onto the cement particles.
Because of the product's superior high-range water-reducing and slump retaining capabilities,
which have been specifically engineered for the ready-mix concrete industry, it lasts
longer, is more effective, and is simpler to use.
Furthermore, Auramix 740SR can maintain excellent retention for 24 hours without any set delay
or strength loss.
These advantages led to the selection of Auramix 740SR as the product of choice for the terminal
buildings, runway, and all surrounding street work areas at the Kumasi Airport site, along
with Fosroc's unmatched expertise and technical product support.
Over 200,000 litres of Auramix 740SR are anticipated to be used in total, giving the contractor
and client complete assurance that the product they chose is the best option.
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