Sunyani Airport ready to commence operations – Transport Minister.
The Minister of Transport, Hon. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, declared the Sunyani Airport fit for purpose after concluding his final inspection tour with a team of experts from the Ghana Airports Company (GAC), the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), and the Ghana Air Force on Tuesday, July 19, 2022.
He concluded that the facility is now operational after assessing all of the works completed by the contractor, Resources Access Limited, on phase one of the Akufo-Addo-led government's Sunyani Airport Rehabilitation Project, which began in 2018.
He was quick to add, however, that the airport would not be operational until the aerial coordinates were thoroughly assessed and approved by the Ghana Air Force, and then certified by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
Following that, there would be test runs to ensure that the runway and other facilities for safe aircraft landings and takeoffs met all aviation standards.
"Thankfully, the contractor has completed his work, and we are now waiting for the airlines to begin operations." However, there are rules and regulations in the aviation industry. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has some standards that any airport must meet before operations can begin. That is why we have brought a team of experts from Ghana Civil Aviation, Ghana Airports Company Limited, and the Ghana Air Force to inspect the facility to ensure that all regulatory requirements have been met," he stated.
The Transport Minister made these remarks to journalists shortly after his team of experts completed a thorough assessment of the GHS48 million airport project.
He was accompanied by a deputy Minister of Transport, Hassan Tampuli Sulemana, NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Sunyani East and Board Chairman of Bui Power Plant, Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, NPP MP for Sunyani East and Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, Bono Regional Chairman of NPP, Kwame Baffour, aka ‘Abronye’, the Bono Regional Minister, Justina Owusu Banahene and the Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, Kusi Boadum.
Commenting further, he said the Ministry of Transport will always ensure that ICAO’s regulatory standards are met to avert any fatalities.
“The Sunyani Airport was closed down in 2015 when the runway got deteriorated and became not fit for purpose. Aviation industry is a very high regulatory industry and if you miss the standards, it means human lives are at stake. That is why the airport was closed down for renovation works to commence to meet ICAO standards. Now what we have done is to ensure that the aircraft can come here. We are going to ensure that this airport meets the best standard in the aviation industry and is fit for its purpose. Now the aircraft can come in and will not pose any danger to anyone”, he said.
A team of experts from the Ghana Air Force that accompanied the Transport Minister to Sunyani to assess the aerial coordinates got down to work. They flew in a Ghana Air Force helicopter which had carried the Minister and his entourage from Accra and got suspended in the air for about twenty (20) minutes before landing.
“It is air route and the aircraft before landing, there are certain altitude and coordinates that have to be maintained. So, that is basically, we are going up to confirm the route and send the report to GCAA for certification”, said the Group Captain, Gervase Wienaa, Director of Engineering, Ghana Air Force.
Findings of their report are expected to be given to the GCAA for study and certification.
Speaking about the facility, Abdul Salam Zabilila Alhassan, Director of Projects & Operations, Resources Access, stated that they are pleased to have completed their task of demarcating the scratches to increase friction on the runway as well as completing the runway markings.
"We are now waiting for the airport to obtain regulatory approval for the facility," he said.
Mr. Daniel Acquah, Deputy Director-General, Technical of the GCAA, also commented on the airport facility, saying he was impressed with the work done by Resources Access Limited and expected some aircraft to begin operations within a few days.
The Managing Director of Ghana Airports Company, Pamela Djamson-Tettey, on her part said “We are delighted to be here today feeling very proud that our airport is ready to start operations. We believe that the contractor and the consultant have delivered on time to a very high standard. We are just waiting to start operations because it means a lot to us as Ghana Airports to be able to earn the revenue that comes from a key place like Sunyani. Have received a lot of requests from some domestic airlines wanting to operate the route. So, we are thrilled that today, as we are here to do the inspection, we will go back with good news and in a few days, the airport will be up and running, like all our other airports. It will earn us good money”.
The Bono Regional Minister, Justina Owusu Banahene, also commenting on the facility, said Passion Air has applied to operate the Sunyani-Accra route and other destinations. She was hopeful that some other airlines will come on board.
Rehabilitation of the Sunyani Airport Phase 1 project began in 2019. It was expected to have completed by end of May 2021 to pave the way for the safe landing and takeoff of aircraft. However, due to the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus, works on the facility had to be suspended until the country returned to normal life.
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