An expert in aerospace and aviation medicine, Dr. Issaka Yakubu Akparibo has said it is needless to construct an airport in the Upper East Region.
According to him, all the factors which are considered in the construction and siting of an airport in an area do not support the promise to construct a domestic airport in the upper east Region.
His assertion follows a promise by the National Democratic Congress to construct a domestic airport in the region should the party win the 2020 elections.
Flagbearer of the NDC John Dramani Mahama who made the announcement at the launch of the party’s manifesto said works had already started at a site which was secured under his previous government for the construction of the airport and he intends to continue should he be given the mandate to govern again.
Dr. Kparibo however explained that getting flights into the region will not be economically viable, as a result it will be difficult to have airlines flying in and out of the region and it will possibly be left underutilized just like the Wa and Ho airports which he noted are currently without air links.
He argued that since the northern region which already has an airport is not too distant from the upper east region, it will be more prudent to construct a high speed rail linking the two regions. This he said will ensure fast and smooth travel from the region to Tamale for flights and address the delays that passengers say they encounter when traveling to Tamale to catch flights.
“There are several factors that we consider when you want to site an airport. There are economic reasons, safety reasons and the need to promote general aviation. So if you look at the distance between upper east and Tamale, it is about 150 KMs. We already have an international airport in Tamale. So you want to site another one in the upper east; So you will want to find out whether there is an economic need or an aviation issue with the Tamale airport that you want to explore new vitals and then have an airport,” he explained on Joy fm.
He continued: “So if you look at all these factors, I don’t think there is a need to have an airport there just like we said about Cape Coast. The best thing that we could do is to construct high speed rail between Bolga and Tamale so that even if you want to catch an international flight, then you could use the rail to connect (to the Tamale airport),” he said.
Dr. Yakubu Akparibo believes siting an airport in the upper east region is a misplaced priority insisting that the construction of a high speed rail will serve a better purpose.
The construction of this proposed airport which has been in the pipeline for over two decades is yet to materialize as there are seeming disagreements over the siting of the airport and lack of commitment on the part of governments.
