All things being equal, the construction of the Bolgatanga Airport will commence by the middle of 2026, Mrs Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, the Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), has assured.
She gave the assurance when a high-level delegation comprising the board and management of the GACL and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) visited the proposed airport site at Anateem, a suburb of Sumbrungu, as part of preparatory activities towards the commencement of the project.
The proposed site for the Bolgatanga Airport covers 2,888.72 hectares of land, which was released free of charge to the government by the people of Sumbrungu in the 1970s, for the construction of the airport.
Several feasibility and technical studies have been conducted on the site to ascertain its suitability for the airport project.
The Managing Director said the project was of high priority to President John Dramani Mahama, the government and the people of the Upper East Region, and all efforts were being channelled towards ensuring its realisation.
“This is the second time we have come here together with the GCAA because of how important this project is,” Mrs Opare said.
She explained that the airport development process began with the Civil Aviation Authority, which provided the technical requirements and documentation to ensure that the site and proposed infrastructure complied with aviation standards.
She said once the documentation were received, GACL would work with its Projects Department to develop a concept design for the airport, which would then be submitted to the GACL Board and other regulatory bodies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the relevant ministries.
Mrs Opare also expressed optimism about the project timeline, saying, “We are hopeful that by the middle of this year, we will be on the ground working.
“… the President is expected to visit the site, and that will pave the way for us to kickstart the project,” she said.
Reverend Stephen Wilfred Arthur, the Director-General of the GCAA, said the Authority was fully committed to ensuring that all technical, national and international aviation standards were met to make the airport viable in the long term.
“Our mind and our heart are in this project,” Rev. Arthur said, stressing that the GCAA would support the process from technical assessment through to commercial operations.
Drawing parallels with the Tamale Airport, which started as a domestic aerodrome but was now capable of handling wide-body aircraft, including the Airbus A380, Rev. Arthur noted that the Bolgatanga Airport was being planned with a strong future outlook.
“Even if we start with a phased approach, we want to get to the extent where the largest aircraft can land here. That is why we are also considering land banking to allow for future expansion. We have international standards in mind for this aerodrome,” he said.
He assured stakeholders that the GCAA would promptly provide all the required documentation to enable the project to take off, adding that collaboration among the institutions involved was key to bringing the airport to life.
Mr James Agalga, the Member of Parliament for Builsa North and Board Chairman of GACL, commended the management of the company for the commitment shown towards the construction of the Bolgatanga Airport.
He assured residents of the region of his resolve to ensure that the project did not fail.
Mr Donatus Atanga Akamugri, the Upper East Regional Minister, underscored the significance of the airport in creating jobs, promoting investment and boosting the local economy, and urged the government to deliver on its promise.
The proposed Bolgatanga Airport is expected to enhance connectivity, boost economic activities and support tourism and investment in the Upper East Region once completed.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali /Christabel Addo
07 Jan. 2026
Photo caption: BLG SOCIAL BOLGATANGA AIRPORT
