KIA expansion project to include airport square

Mrs. Dzifa Attivor, Minister of Transport has expressed satisfaction at the level of work done in the phase I of the on-going Terminal Two arrival hall expansion project

She also tasked the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) to include the renovation of the airport square during the phase one.

The renovation of the airport square was to be part of the subsequent phases of the project but the Minister noted that, since the square was the entrance to the meeters and greeters area, where Phase one would end, it was prudent to extend it to cover that area.

“Considering the time they started, we are on course to deliver on Phase one which would allow passengers to use the arrival hall before Christmas. During our rounds, the contractor showed us the end of the phase one project.

This is the entrance, this is where people come to meet their relatives and visitors and so that area should not be left as it is. They have agreed to look into it and I’m sure they will add it to the first phase”, she said.

The KIA Terminal two Arrival hall expansion project, which would add an additional 5,148 m2 to the existing 6,031 m2 floor area, began in June 2014 and is expected to be completed in November 2015.

Phase one of the project, which includes the construction of the expanded arrival terminal area, the expansion of the immigration area and installation of extra immigration and customs desks, provision and installation of two new baggage handling equipment for the arrival hall as well as other electrical, mechanical and plumbing works, is expected to be completed by December 2014 to cater for the increase in traffic flow during the festive season.

The second phase will be the construction of two top floors, to serve as airline offices and offices for staff of the GACL.

The 21.4-million-dollar project is being funded by internally generated funds of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), and is being undertaken by Amandi Holdings Limited.

Mr. David Ben Ayun, Chief Engineer of Amandi, took the Minister round the project site to see the extent of work done so far and assured her that they were on course to finish the first phase by the deadline.

Mr. Charles Asare, Managing Director of the GACL, also assured the Minister that her suggestion would be considered and carried out. He noted that, it was not part of the designated areas for phase one but the GACL and the consultants would look into adding it to the first phase.

The Minister was also briefed on the Port health authority’s preparedness to handle the Ebola threat.

They said the GACL had procured some hand-held thermal scanners for the authority to enable all arriving passengers to be screened for elevated temperatures that might indicate the presence of the Ebola virus as well as other measures, including screening through the filling of forms, deployment of hand sanitisers at vantage points and construction of an isolation centre near the hajj village.