Ghana’s aviation industry in the year 2012 set a target of 6 million passengers into the country by end of year 2015. With an average annual growth of 10%, the aviation industry is one of the fastest-growing and the most competitive in the West Africa sub-region driven mainly by the perceived growth of the economy.
The target which represented an increase of over 200% more than the total passenger count of 1.8 million recorded in 2011.
It is as a result of this that the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) has noted that it is working around the clock to raise an estimated US$738.2 million through public-private partnership to help develop the country’s five airports.
US$402 million of the amount will be used to develop the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) as a hub to service the sub-region. This project includes building a new international terminal (Terminal 3) to reduce pressure on existing terminals at the KIA. The design and build concept is expected to handle up to 5 million passenger traffic on an annual basis.
Meanwhile, an amount of US$173.2 million is been used to rehabilitate and expand works at the Kumasi domestic airport while US$64 million is expected to be used for the Tamale airport and US$ 35.5 million, US$63.5 million for the Sunyani and the Takoradi airports respectively.
Currently, even though there are 33 scheduled airlines operating at KIA, the urge for more airlines continues despite the pressure that mounts on the domestic aviation market.
The busiest of Ghana’s domestic airports, Kumasi, recorded an increase of 300% in passenger traffic from an average of 4,000 passengers a month in 2011 to 16,000 in 2012.
Given this situation, GACL has called for partnership from foreign and local investors to provide the essential capital and expertise to develop infrastructure which will expand capacities of Ghana’s airports to meet the increasing demand.
The GACL says it is evaluating proposals from local and foreign bidders, who are desirous of constructing the proposed Tamale International Airport.
Domestic airline operators, in recent times, have called for the expansion and renovation of Kumasi and Sunyani airports in order to accommodate bigger and heavier aircraft.
Last month expansion works on the Kumasi Airport arrival hall was completed and operators and customers expressed their relief from the congestion and long queues that characterized the airport.
Lt. Col. (Rtd) Daniel Kwame Amedoh, Director of Aviation Security at the GACL has also thrown a word of caution to air travelers:
“All passengers should adequately secure their baggage. Don’t look after or check-in baggage for someone else.
Don’t carry anything into an aircraft for someone else. And Passengers are advised to keep electronic goods to a minimum.”