Tamale, Jan. 16, GNA- Mrs. Gloria Akuffo, Minister of Aviation on Wednesday inspected finishing touches being put to infrastructural works at the Tamale Airport as part of preparation towards Ghana 2008. The projects she inspected included the renovation of the arrival and departure halls, the ground marking of the runaway tarmac, which is being constructed by Consar Construction Company Limited.

Group Captain Kit Caesar, acting Garrison Commander, Mr. Stephano Ramela, Managing Director of Consar Limited and some officials of the Civil Aviation Authority and the Immigration and Customs and Excise Services accompanied the Minister on her inspection of the facilities. Also almost completed are the runaway lightening system and the precision path-finder, which is to help determine accuracy of flights. A flight test of the equipment would be carried out on Wednesday night. Mrs. Akuffo expressed her satisfaction with the works carried out so far, especially the work on the terminal grounds, which is completed and only, left with the fixing of fittings.

She commended the Air Force for their cooperation with the contractors and the Ministry of Aviation in carrying out the renovation works at the airport.

She said the rehabilitation being carried in the airport were part of a process to raise it to international standards and also ensure that it was "homely" to receive direct international flights due to Ghana 2008.

Mr. Lord Affrifah, Controller of Operations of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) said due to the likelihood that some international flights would be flown directly to Tamale because of the games the Service had set up an operational team at the airport to carry out its duties effectively and at the convenience of passengers. Group Captain Caesar said that the Air Force were prepared to hand over the Tamale Airport to the Ministry of Aviation if the Ministry could assist to relocate them by providing them with new administrative offices.