Ghana’s airport infrastructure expansion is being financed from the balance sheets of the state-owned aviation companies rather than direct government funding, President John Dramani Mahama said, highlighting an effort to use commercial revenues to expand infrastructure without drawing on the national budget.
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony for a seven-storey hotel and parking complex at Accra International Airport, Mahama said Ghana Airports Company Ltd is financing several major projects from its own balance sheet, while the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority is funding construction of a new control tower.
“Ghana has not given any of the two institutions one single cedi for these projects,” Mahama said.
The projects include the new airport car park and hotel complex, refurbishment of Terminal 2 and construction of a transfer concourse linking Terminals 2 and 3, according to the president. The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority is separately financing the new control tower.
The development comes as passenger traffic through Accra International Airport has risen sharply, increasing from 1.8 million passengers in 2022 to 2.5 million in 2025, Mahama said.
The increase has placed pressure on parking facilities, airport roads and passenger pickup and drop-off areas, creating the need for additional capacity around Terminal 3.
Seven-story complex
The new development will provide about 2,030 covered parking spaces and include a 120-room five-star hotel and a 250-room three-star hotel, Mahama said.
The complex will also contain retail and commercial facilities, restaurants, banking and traveler services, offices and a food court. A covered pedestrian skybridge will connect the development directly to Terminal 3.
The project is designed to turn the airport enclave into a broader commercial and hospitality center rather than a facility focused solely on aircraft operations, Mahama said.
The complex will also feature technology-enabled parking, including automatic number plate recognition, cashless and ticketless payment, parking guidance systems and centralized CCTV surveillance.
Electric-vehicle charging infrastructure will be installed as part of the development, reflecting the government’s push to incorporate cleaner transport infrastructure into long-term airport investments.
Mahama said the project should also meet standards for energy efficiency, waste management, water conservation and environmentally responsible construction.
Aviation hub ambitions
The president said the investment is intended to strengthen Accra’s position as an aviation hub in West Africa as Ghana seeks to benefit from rising passenger traffic, tourism, trade and investment.
“Location alone is not enough,” Mahama said, arguing that Ghana must combine its geographic advantage with efficient regulation, strong safety standards, customer service, competitive aviation services and reliable ground transportation.
The government is also pursuing aviation projects outside Accra.
Mahama said preparations are advanced for construction of a new airport in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, while procurement processes are underway for regional airports in Naa in the Upper West Region and near Sunyani in the Bono Region.
Work is also progressing on extending the runway at Prempeh I International Airport in Kumasi, allowing the facility to accommodate heavier long-haul aircraft and potentially support direct international flights, he said.
The projects are part of a broader government strategy to improve domestic connectivity and link regional producers to markets, while supporting tourism and investment.
Airlines
Mahama also said the government has removed duties and taxes on aircraft and aircraft spare parts under a new Ghana Customs Act signed Wednesday.
The measure is intended to lower the cost of maintaining aircraft and improve the safety of domestic airlines, he said.
The president urged contractors working on the airport complex to maintain strict cost controls, meet construction specifications and complete the project on schedule.
He also called for advance communication with passengers about construction-related disruptions, including changes to traffic arrangements around the airport.
According to the president, the ultimate objective is not simply to start another construction project but to complete and commission infrastructure that generates economic value.
“We are cutting the sod with the expectation that the project will be completed, commissioned and put to productive use for the benefit of the people of Ghana,” he said.
