Accra (Greater Accra), 24th May '99 -

The 70 million-dollar Kotoka International Airport expansion project is progressing steadily with some 24 months left for it to be commissioned.

Captain Joe Boachie, Deputy Director General of Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said at an "Open Day ", organised on Friday, as part of activities marking World Telecommunication Day that when the expansion work is completed the airport would be able to handle double the present 500,000 passengers that use it.

The project involves the updating of equipment, extension of the runway and roads and provision of other utility services, shopping and a services centre.

Capt. Boachie said the possibility of constructing another international airport would largely depend on the success of the project, since the present air traffic is not big enough to warrant a second one.

"We think that it will be necessary to have a second international airport only when facilities and space cannot cope with traffic.

"The idea of a second airport is not a matter of mere national pride, it should be built to take spill-over."

Capt. Boachie said the Tamale, Kumasi and the Sunyani Airports are being expanded gradually to handle internal traffic growth.

Commander P. M. G. Griffiths, Deputy Minister of Communications, praised GCAA for its high safety standards, which, he said, makes Kotoka International Airport one of the safest in the world.

GRi?/