Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia inaugurated the new Tamale International Airport in the presence of British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson, UK’s Department for Business and Trade’s Country Director Giselle Agyare, and UK’s Northern Ghana Attaché, Paul Edwards. This UK-supported infrastructure project, facilitated by UK Export Finance (UKEF), aims to enhance connectivity in Ghana and West Africa, spurring economic growth in Northern Ghana. The airport is anticipated to promote the export of regional agricultural products like shea butter, cashew nuts, and mangoes.
Harriet Thompson emphasized the airport’s potential to stimulate investment and growth in the northern region, connecting it to global markets. The project was executed by British and Ghanaian companies under the guidance of UK Company QGMI UK, generating over 500 jobs and emphasizing sustainable practices such as planting 2000 trees and implementing a Livelihood Restoration Plan.
UK Minister for Exports, Lord Offord, praised the project’s role in Ghana’s economic recovery, anticipating increased travel options, local jobs, and business opportunities. The airport’s expansion is expected to boost tourism, particularly for Hajj pilgrims, as the facility will serve as a terminal during the Hajj Season. The initiative was driven by the UK-Ghana Business Council, contributing to a total investment of £223 million in Ghana’s infrastructure since 2018.
Furthermore, London will host the 2024 UK-African Investment Summit, fostering trade and investment between the UK, African nations, and Ghana.
