President John Dramani Mahama has announced that full funding has been secured for the construction of a modern airport in Wa, confirming that contractors have been selected following the completion of the procurement process.
Inspecting the proposed airport site as part of his “Resetting Ghana” tour of the Upper West Region, President Mahama emphasized that the project will replace the existing airstrip, which is no longer fit for purpose.
“The old facility, which we called an airport, was really an airstrip and it was no longer fit for purpose. There was a time when the main Wa–Nadowli road actually crossed the runway. It was only later that the road was diverted and the runway was fenced to improve safety,” President Mahama stated, noting that a dedicated new airport has long been envisioned for the region.
Direct Financing and Modern Capabilities
Addressing financial readiness, the President assured residents that work would commence without delays because the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has fully secured the required resources.
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The new facility will feature modern navigational equipment and airfield runway lighting, enabling 24-hour operations for both day and night landings.
President Mahama highlighted the economic and transit benefits of domestic air travel, explaining that a flight between Wa and Accra will take approximately one hour and fifteen minutes, eliminating the nine-to-ten-hour road journey and facilitating seamless business transit.
Catalyzing General Aviation, Agriculture, and Tourism
Beyond scheduled commercial flights, aviation analysts highlight that the modern facility will provide a major boost to general aviation across northern Ghana. Equipped with night-landing capabilities and dedicated hangar space, the hub will support specialized non-scheduled operations, including aerial crop spraying, precision agricultural surveys, and rapid airfreight dispatch for perishable farm produce from the Upper West Region’s growing agribusiness sector.
The infrastructure upgrade is also positioned to unlock the region’s untapped eco-tourism and cultural heritage potential. Direct, reliable air access will enable charter flights and private operators to transport domestic and international tourists directly to major attractions, such as the Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary and the traditional Gbelle Resource Reserve, significantly boosting local hospitality revenues and driving regional economic diversification.
Strategic Planning for Future Urban Expansion
Addressing observations regarding the distance of the new site from the central business district, President Mahama urged stakeholders to consider long-term urban growth over a 20-year horizon.
“Accra International Airport was once located outside Accra in what was then bushland. Today, development has expanded so much that there is hardly any land left around the airport,” the President observed. “In the same way, this airport will encourage Wa to grow and expand in this direction.”
