Stephen Yakubu, the Upper East Regional Minister, has called on residents in the area to rally behind the government in its quest to construct an airport for the region.
He said the airport was urgently needed to boost the local economy, irrespective of political colours, and urged the 15 Members of Parliament and concerned individuals to work in tandem to realize the long-awaited vision of the region.
Yakubu made the call at a durbar of chiefs and people of the region at Sumbrungu, a suburb of the Bolgatanga Municipality.
Yakubu disclosed that some French, Moroccan, and Chinese investors were contacted to support the construction, but they were reluctant to sole-construct the airport.
He said they rather proposed a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement.
The Minister, however, said a mining company in the region had shown interest in the construction, and the government was engaging the company to conclude on the necessary terms and conditions.
Yakubu said he would work closely with the Airport Development Committee, and gave the assurance that he would seek the necessary clearance for the Committee to seek an audience with either the President or the Vice President to speed up the process needed to start the construction work.
He cautioned residents to be weary of politicians who would give empty promises to build an airport for the region, noting that politicians would use the political season to gain votes.
In a speech read on behalf of the Chiefs, Elders, and ‘Tindaamas’ (Landowners) by Naba Patrick Ayimbila Asaliya III, who is the Chairman of the Airport Development Committee, said the region was far from the national capital, and was the only region among the traditional ten regions without an airport.
He said in the spirit of development and nationalism, the Chiefs and Tindaamas at the located site for the project, willingly released the land at their own cost, noting that farmlands and other economic trees were destroyed to pave way for the project.
Naba Asaliya III added that the discovery of gold, oil, and industrial clay in commercial quantities in the region further boosted the need for the airport to propel development.
By: Ibrahim Abode | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
