By Iddi Yire
Accra, Aug. 27, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has cut the sod for the construction of a Multi-Tiered, Multi-Purpose Carpark and Airport Hotels Complex at the Accra International Airport as part of efforts to modernise aviation infrastructure and improve passenger experience.
The facility, expected to be completed within 24 months, will comprise a seven-storey car park, two hotels, a pedestrian connector to Terminal Three and more than 2,000 parking bays.
Other components include a shopping mall with a food court, retail and office spaces for rent, a sky lounge for entertainment, and a sky observatory for aircraft viewing, including take-offs and landings.
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony in Accra, President Mahama said the project was aimed at preparing Ghana’s premier international gateway to meet future demands.
He said the investment demonstrated the Government’s commitment to improving passenger experience and ensuring that airport infrastructure kept pace with the country’s economic growth and development aspirations.
The President recalled that in 2014 Ghana embarked on a major aviation infrastructure expansion project with the construction of Terminal Three in response to increasing passenger traffic and capacity constraints at Terminal Two.
He said the facility had since enhanced passenger facilitation, improved service delivery and strengthened Ghana’s position as a preferred aviation hub in the West African sub-region.
“The lesson from that investment is clear: infrastructure must anticipate growth. We cannot wait until congestion becomes unmanageable. Services deteriorate and opportunities are lost before we take action. Responsible leadership requires us to plan and to build ahead,” President Mahama stated.
He noted that increasing passenger numbers and airport activities had created growing pressure on parking facilities and traffic movement within the airport enclave.
According to him, passenger traffic through the Accra International Airport increased from 1.8 million in 2022 to 2.5 million in 2025, reflecting Ghana’s expanding air connectivity and attractiveness as a destination for business, tourism and investment.
He reiterated that the resilience of the aviation sector and the attractiveness of the country as a destination for business, tourism, investment, and family travel were enhanced by these developments.
He said the growth also placed pressure on airport roads, parking facilities, pick-up and drop-off points, security operations and overall airport efficiency.
“Anyone who has travelled through a busy airport will acknowledge that the passenger experience begins long before you check in and it does not end after you have collected your baggage,” he said.
“Access, parking, movement, safety, convenience and hospitality are all essential parts of that experience. The facility for which we cut the sod today is therefore a timely and practical response.”
The President said the new development would provide additional parking capacity, improve traffic circulation, reduce congestion and optimise land use within the airport enclave.
He explained that the vertical design of the facility would ensure efficient use of limited space while creating room for additional airport-related services.
President Mahama said the Government, through the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), was proactively addressing existing and future infrastructure needs through the project.
He said upon completion, the seven-storey complex would provide about 2,030 covered parking bays, significantly increasing parking capacity around Terminal Three.
The President noted that the project extended beyond parking infrastructure and represented an integrated airport development designed to serve passengers, business travellers, tourists, airlines and the public.
He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to investing in aviation infrastructure, strengthening connectivity, and supporting the growth of a globally competitive aviation sector.
President Mahama disclosed that he had recently assented to a new Ghana Customs Act, which removes duties and taxes on the importation of aircraft spare parts by domestic airlines.
“We want to make domestic airlines safer. If they bring in spare parts to maintain their aircraft, they will come in duty-free and tax-free. I am sure Passion Air and Africa World Airlines will be very happy to hear this,” the President said.
The President also mentioned preparations towards the construction of airports in Bolgatanga in the Upper East region, Wa in the Upper West region and Nsoatre near Sunyani in the Bono region as part of efforts to expand aviation infrastructure across the country.
Mrs Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, Managing Director of GACL, said the construction of the Multi-Tiered, Multi-Purpose Carpark and Airport Hotels Complex formed part of ongoing efforts to modernise the Accra International Airport.
She said the project would enhance passenger convenience and improve services within the airport enclave.
Mr Joseph Bukari Nikpe, Minister of Transport, described the project as another significant milestone in the Government’s drive to modernise and expand Ghana’s aviation infrastructure while improving passenger experience.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah