President John Dramani Mahama has described the proposed Bolgatanga Airport as a game changer for the Upper East Region, saying the project will improve air connectivity, attract investment, and stimulate economic activity in the region.

President Mahama made the remarks on Thursday August 13 2026, when he inspected the proposed airport site at Anateem-Sumbrungu as part of his Resetting Ghana Tour of the Upper East Region.

The airport is expected to have an initial capacity of 100,000 passengers, with provisions for expansion as passenger traffic grows.

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President Mahama said the facility would save residents, businesses, and other travellers in the region the inconvenience of travelling about 160 kilometres to Tamale to access air services to Accra.

“The airport will support businesses, including the region’s mining sector, while making it easier for investors to travel between Accra and the Upper East Region,” President Mahama said during his 'Resetting Ghana Tour' of the region on August 13, 2026.

He expressed optimism that the sod-cutting ceremony for the project would take place before the end of 2026, with contractors expected to complete construction in less than the 24-month contractual period.

The proposed airport has been on the drawing board for several decades, with successive governments exploring various plans to establish an aviation facility in the Upper East Region.

According to research, the selected site at Anateem, near Sumbrungu in the Bolgatanga Municipality, covers about 2,888 hectares and was made available to the government by the people of Sumbrungu decades ago for the development of an airport.

ANAS/MA

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