Mr John Dekyem Attafuah, Managing Director, Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), has said the Company was actively engaging airline and tour operators to develop the Ho Airport as a new route.

“Air traffic develops and we think the Ho Airport has the potential to turn out to be one of our best routes if marketed well as a new route. It has a strategic location,” he said.

Mr Attafuah said this when Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport toured facilities at the Airport on Monday.

He said the Company was working on promoting the Airport at this year’s “Routes Africa Conference” in July to become an alternative to Lome and called for support from stakeholders including the Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport.

Mr Attafuah said the Company was looking at flights from Ho to Takoradi, Kumasi and Tamale whiles strategizing to reach clients from neighbouring Togo and Nigeria, because, “it has the potential to become the link between Ghana and Togo.

Mr Samuel Ayeh-Paye, Member of Parliament for Ayensuano, Chairman, Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport, said the Committee was impressed with the quality of work done and advised the GACL to secure the land area for future expansions and to ward off encroachers.

He suggested engagements with road transport companies for the establishment of a bus terminal near the Airport for easy access and to keep the Airport busy.

Mr Ayeh-Paye also urged the Ho Municipal Assembly to consider the creation of a free zone enclave in the Airport area for food processors under government’s “One District, One Factory” initiative to attract investors.

He said the Committee would work with the Ministry of Roads and Highways to fix the Ho-Aflao road to attract customers from Aflao, Togo and Nigeria.

Mr Kwame Agbodza, Member of Parliament for Adaklu and Ranking Member for the Committee congratulated the contractors, consultants and especially, the GACL for opening up the country for opportunities.

He however called for an elevator for the terminal building for easy access to people with disabilities and asked the GACL to develop a masterplan for the area to ensure “controlled development.”

Mr Agbodza said it was also important for the GACL to give chiefs from Adaklu and Ho, owners of the land, due recognition in their operations, to forestall agitations.

Mr Nadav Simhoni, Executive Director, Amandi, Contractors of the Airport, said the facility was ready for handing over and that it had successfully gone through testing.