THE SUNYANI Airport, which was closed down to traffic in 2015 to carry out repair works, particularly on the runway, is ready to begin operations, according to the Transport Minister, Kwesi Ofori Asiamah.
Mr. Ofori Asiamah made this known yesterday at the Sunyani Airport after he was accompanied by the regulatory authorities in the aviation industry to inspect finished work on the project and give approval for operation.
Briefing the minister and his entourage, the contractor in charge of the project, Abdul Salam Zabila Alhassan of Resource Access Limited informed the minister all physical work including markings have been completed.
“What is left is for regulators to certify our work. We are waiting for authorities to certify our work for us to hand over so that it can be opened to traffic,” he emphasised.
On his part, Deputy-Director General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Daniel Acquah, explained that the airport was closed down to enable repair works on the runway, which was short so could not allow all aircrafts to fly there. “But with the runway extended now, it will allow all planes to come here. Within few days operations will begin,” he assured.
The inspectors include the Ghana Air Force, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and the Ghana Airport Company. As part of the inspection, Group Captain Javes Wienna told the media the helicopter which brought the minister will fly into the air for 20 minutes, check and coordinate all the necessary areas to certify whether to give approval for it to start operations. “We have to confirm the route and send report to civil aviation and when it is approved we start operation,” he disclosed.
The transport minister noted that the Civil Aviation Authority needed to protect regulatory standard, hence government has to close down the airport to do repair works to protect standard. “New airlines can now operate here. When the Sunyani Airport is open to traffic, it will raise revenue and increase economic activities and improve the living standard of the people in the region,” he added.
He urged the media to highlight the good works of government.
FROM Daniel Y Dayee,