Construction of the New Hajj Village near the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) has reached about 55 per cent completion, placing the project firmly on track as a key aviation-linked real estate development with economic relevance beyond its religious role.
The update came during an inspection tour by the Board and Management of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), led by Board Chairman James Agalga, who expressed satisfaction with the pace of work and confidence in the project’s long-term benefits.
A Multi-Use Facility for Year-Round Activity
Although conceived to support Ghana’s annual Hajj operations, the New Hajj Village is being developed as a mixed-use facility designed to remain active throughout the year. The project combines aviation support services with commercial, hospitality and event-related infrastructure.
According to Solomon Abijah, Director of Projects, Engineering and Construction at Mawums Limited, the layout has been deliberately planned to ensure continuous use beyond the Hajj season.
“The entire area has been designed as a recreational and green space. During Hajj, canopies can be mounted to manage the movement of pilgrims in and out of the terminal, but outside that period, the space remains fully functional,” he said.
Commercial, Conference and Health Facilities
Central to the development is a commercial and conference block comprising retail shops, restaurants and indoor conference facilities with seating capacities of 250 and 50 people. These facilities are intended to support meetings, events and retail activity independent of pilgrimage travel.
A fully serviced clinic is also being incorporated to provide on-site medical support for pilgrims and visitors. Mr Abijah described this as a critical component to improve safety and emergency response.
Residential accommodation blocks are structurally complete, with roofing and internal plastering finished. Work is currently underway on washrooms, flooring, ceilings and painting. The terminal building, fitted with IT systems, will handle passenger facilitation and travel processing.
Mosque, Market and Support Infrastructure
The project includes a mosque with a capacity of about 300 worshippers, which Mr Abijah said is well advanced structurally. The main dome has been completed and allowed to cure, while work continues on four minarets, with their lower bases already in place.
Next to the mosque is a market shed and cooking area designed to serve both pilgrims and the general public. The facility is expected to remain operational during the off-Hajj season, supporting continuous economic activity.
Other supporting infrastructure includes male and female ablution facilities, refuse management shelters, offices for Hajj officials, internal roads and extensive parking areas. Dedicated parking is being provided for buses during pilgrimage departures, alongside additional space for commercial events.
Aviation Real Estate Without Public Capital Outlay
Speaking to the project’s financing structure, Mr Agalga stressed that GACL is not funding the construction directly.
“The project is being delivered through a land-swap arrangement. The contractor is building the facility at its own cost in exchange for land occupied by the old Hajj Village. The airport company is not spending a dime,” he said.
He described the arrangement as a strategic approach to asset optimisation, noting that the completed facility would generate commercial revenue for GACL through retail, conferencing and hospitality, helping to fund future airport infrastructure without recurring public expenditure.
Presidential Backing and Policy Continuity
Mr Agalga disclosed that the project enjoys strong backing from President John Dramani Mahama, who personally cut the sod for commencement of works after assuming office.
He said the President believes Ghanaian pilgrims should be supported with dignified facilities that ease their journey to Mecca and Medina, adding that the current administration deliberately chose to continue and advance the project in line with the principle that government is a continuum.
Economic and Aviation Sector Implications
Beyond pilgrimage facilitation, the New Hajj Village reflects GACL’s broader strategy to leverage airport-adjacent land assets to generate non-aeronautical revenue, a model increasingly adopted by airport operators worldwide.
Industry observers note that such developments help reduce reliance on passenger charges, strengthen financial sustainability and improve service delivery across the aviation value chain.
Looking Ahead
While acknowledging that construction is slightly behind schedule, Mr Agalga said assurances had been given that lost time would be recovered, with the facility expected to be ready for commissioning by the end of the year.
For GACL, the New Hajj Village is shaping up not only as a support facility for pilgrims, but also as a strategic aviation-linked investment that combines infrastructure development, commercial viability and inclusive national service delivery.
