The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, has lauded Alagumgube, a development-focused group of Upper East natives based in New Jersey, for their grassroots contribution towards the much-anticipated Upper East Regional Airport.
Opare was speaking during a high-level inspection of the proposed airport site—a renewed step in government’s commitment to expanding air infrastructure to the northern part of Ghana.
“We are here to assess the land and understand what’s required to initiate this long-awaited project,” she said.
“I must commend Alagumgube for grading the land with their own resources. This is a remarkable show of community-driven development.”
The inspection marks a significant milestone in the region’s long-standing aspiration for an airport. The push for air access intensified in late 2023 when Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited proposed building an airstrip to aid its operations in Talensi.
That proposal was later expanded, with encouragement from the Ministry of Transport, into a vision for a full-scale regional airport.
The momentum received a further boost recently when former President John Dramani Mahama, during his National Thank You Tour, reaffirmed his commitment to the airport, describing it as “a strategic development priority.”
Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, called on GACL to fast-track the process. “This airport will unlock enormous economic opportunities,” he noted.
“Traditional authorities are aligned and ready to release more land for future expansions, including a service hub for aircraft maintenance.”
The Paramount Chief of Nangodi, Naba Yelzoya Kosom Asaga, expressed optimism that the project will finally see the light of day. “The hopes of our people are high,” he said. “This project must not fail.”
Once completed, the airport is expected to serve as a critical link for aviation, trade, and development, strengthening the Upper East Region’s connection to the rest of the country and beyond.
