Government has served notice of its intention to commence the construction of an Aerodrome in the Navrongo-Paga area.
This according to Caretaker Finance Minister Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu is in line with governments plan to ensure that all regions in the country have at least an aerodrome to improve connectivity and boost tourism.
Presenting the 2021 budget statement to Parliament, Mr. Kyei Mensah Bonsu disclosed that the Navrongo-Paga area has been identified for the construction of the aerodrome for the upper east region.
“Mr. Speaker, as part of Government Policy to ensure that all regional capitals have at least an aerodrome to improve connectivity and boost tourism, feasibility studies for the development of an airport in Cape Coast has commenced. Other sites identified for the construction of aerodromes include Apowa-Mpohor, Yendi, Mole, Navrongo, Paga and Kete Krachi through Public Private Partnerships (PPP),” he said.
It will be recalled that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during a visit to the region on a campaign in October 2020 hinted that the Upper East Regional Airport will likely be located in Paga, in Chiana-Paga constituency.
While announcing that a technical team will be dispatched to the region to conduct an assessment for suitability of the airport at one of three proposed locations, the President who was speaking at a durbar in Paga said “..But you know I have a soft spot for Paga; so your [one] will be definitely considered.”
In 2017, a planned relocation of the proposed site for the airport to Sherigu sparked protests by residents of Sumburungu, a suburb of Bolgatanga which was earmarked to host the project. The residents of Sumburungu at a press conference accused the then Upper East Regional Minister, Rokson Bukar of deliberately attempting to relocate the airport from the Anateem site at Sumburungu, where they said significant resources had been invested, to a new site at Sherigu thus denying them of a project meant for them.
The residents of Sherigu responded subsequently in a counter press conference cautioning the people of Sumburungu to stop vilifying the then regional minister and allow experts to determine a suitable site for the proposed airport.
The disagreement over the siting of the airport was almost settled until the Aviation Minister and MP for Navrongo who was vying to be elected as the NPP parliamentary candidate indicated in a radio interview that there were plans to relocate the siting of the planned airport to his hometown, Navrongo.
