The Wa Airstrip is expected to be open to commercial air traffic next week, the Aviation Minister, Joseph Kofi Adda has said.
This means there will now be direct flights from Accra to Wa.
Speaking during an inspection visit to the Wa Airstrip, Mr. Adda said “I think it is fairly okay for us to start operations.”“We would have come with a commercial airline, but we had to come ahead of them to certify the pressure that they need for the tarmac,” he told the press.
The Minister said some testing needed to be done to assess the strength of the runway, among other aspects of the airstrip.
“The technical people will do their testing. They will come back to us with reports by the weekend so we hope that by early next week, the operations will start.”
Mr. Adda also revealed that the government had concluded various agreements with local airlines for more direct flights from Accra to Wa to be available.
“There are a few other airlines that are coming on board. I think one has just been granted the approval fully,” he added.
The Wa Airstrip has been closed to commercial traffic although expansion works were completed over a year ago.
Until now, the government had missed several timelines for the opening of the airstrip.
Expansion work on the airstrip began in 2016.
The renovation of the airstrip saw the extension of the runway, expansion of terminal building and the fencing of the facility.
The airstrip currently boasts of a two-kilometre tarmac with a 40-metre width which makes it capable of hosting Code C type aircraft which includes Boeing 737-700 Airbus and Embraer ERJ 190-100.
The government is hopeful the operationalization of the airstrip will open up the region to the rest of the country and enhance trade.
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By: Mahama Latif | citinewsroom.com | Ghana | [email protected]
The post Renovated Wa Airstrip to open next week appeared first on Citi Newsroom.
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