Accra: Mr Joseph Bukari Nikpe, the Minister of Transport, conducted a working visit to the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) to inspect ongoing expansion and rehabilitation works at the Kotoka International Airport. The visit is part of the government's broader agenda to transform Ghana into a competitive aviation hub within the West African sub-region.
According to Ghana News Agency, a key highlight of the visit was the strategic reconfiguration of Terminal 2, which is being repurposed to help ease congestion at Terminal 3, especially during peak travel hours. Mr. Nikpe emphasized the importance of moving beyond boardroom discussions to ensure that the delivery of aviation infrastructure meets required standards and timelines. "We.have been talking about how to expand and improve upon our airport facilities to create that kind of regional and international connectivity," he stated.
The Minister stressed the necessity of firsthand observation of contractors' execution of tasks related to expansion, construction, and upgrading of existing facilities to meet growing demand. "We are looking at how they are going about the construction, how they are improving the facilities to position us to actually be the hub of West Africa," he added. Mr. Nikpe expressed satisfaction with the pace of work, noting that rehabilitation sometimes takes time but the first phase is completed, and they are entering the second phase.
Mr. Nikpe explained that the modification of Terminal 2 is intended to redirect some traffic from Terminal 3, providing more space and comfort for passengers. "This place is now designed to take care of international travellers, and the other side will cater for our domestic travellers," he said. The Minister also visited the site of the ongoing construction of GACL's new 11-storey administrative head office complex, expected to be completed within 24 months.
The office project, currently in its second phase, is part of a larger rehabilitation and improvement agenda. Mr. Nikpe concluded his visit with an interaction with the staff of the Ghana Airports Company Limited, commending them for their dedication to duty and urging them to continue their commitment to delivering quality services to travelers and stakeholders across the aviation sector.
