Business News of Wednesday, 13 November 2013
Source: B&FT
The Minister of Transport, Dzifa Attivor, has inspected the proposed site for the development of an airport in the Volta regional capital, Ho.
The 3,000-acre piece of land has been designated for the construction of an airport as part of government’s initiative to improve aviation infrastructure and encourage air travel by constructing an airport in all regions that currently do not have one.
The country currently has one international airport in Accra and four domestic airports in four other regions. Ms. Dzifa said the project will accelerate movement of persons doing business and promote tourism, agriculture, health services and create jobs in the region.
“Volta Region also needs to have its share of the national cake, and this is a move to ensure that development comes to the region.”
She said the site is very good for the airport as it has been used before by the military as an airstrip. She however did not say when construction will begin and the cost of the project.
She warned encroachers and private individuals to stay away from the land and stop putting up illegal structures on it. “Normally, when government announces that it will develop some area, private individuals come to put up structures on it. So I want to tell encroachers to desist from that act, because no compensation will be given to anybody who acquires the land illegally.
“If there is any compensation, it will go to the original owners of the land. When the project starts the people of the Volta Region will benefit most, and they should ensure that the land is protected.”
She called on Togbe Afede XIV, the Paramount Chief of the Asogli State, to use his office to ensure that the land is secure and no individual puts up any illegal structure on it.