Former Deputy Information Minister under the erstwhile Mahama administration, Felix Ofosu Kwakye, has described as blatant lie claims that the Kumasi International Airport project is an initiative of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
According to him, the project was started by former John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government as far back as 2014.
Phase 1 of the project, he said, was started and completed by President Mahama and Phase 2 was in progress before President Akufo-Addo took over the reins of government.
In a post on his Facebook Wall, Ofosu Kwakye noted that President Akufo-Addo found and had Parliament approve € 58.9 million(69.6 million) from Deutsche Bank AG London Branch for just Phase 3 of the project whose scope of work includes the expansion of the terminal building, access roads, car park and a new fire station.
He stated that Phase 2, which started under Mahama and Phase 3, which started under Present Akufo-Addo are being done concurrently to save cost because work on Phase 2 was stopped when the NPP came to power in 2017.
Below is the text of the post:
It is a blatant lie!
The facts around that project are as found below.
The Kumasi International Airport Redevelopment is a three-phased project started by President John Mahama.
Phase 1 was completed in 2014 with the construction of a new 1,981-meter runway, provision of Aeronautical Ground Lighting to make night flights possible and modern Instrument Landing Systems.
On 2nd November 2016, President Mahama found and had Parliament approve € 66.35 million ($77.977 million) from Banco Santander S.A of Spain for Phase 2 comprising a modern, 1 million passenger a year capacity Terminal building with three Airbridges, multiple service facilities and the extension of the runway to 2,300 meters to accommodate larger aircraft.
In April 2019, President Akufo-Addo found and had Parliament approve € 58.9 million(69.6 million) from Deutsche Bank AG London Branch for Phase 3 of the project whose scope of works include the expansion of the terminal building, access roads, car park and a new fire station.
Phases 2 and 3 are being done concurrently because according to the contractor, it would save $4 million.
President Mahama had previously undertaken the $ 274 million, 5 million passengers a year capacity Terminal 3 at the Kotoka International Airport, refurbished Terminal 2 at the same airport, Phase 1 of the Tamale International Airport and the Ho Airport.