Parliament on Friday, approved a contract agreement between the government of Ghana and Construtora Queitoz Galvao S.A of Brazil to a tune of $100 million for the design and construction of the Tamale international airport airfield and pavement.

The approval gives way for the commencement of the first phase of the project which includes the rehabilitation and extension of the existing runway from 2438m to 4000m comprising a detailed design, extension and strengthening of the existing runway pavement, rehabilitation of the existing taxiway, taxi-links and apron expansion.

Chairman of the Committee on Roads and Transport, Michael Coffie Boampong, who moved the motion for adoption of the committee's report on the contract said the upgrade would support programmes of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) and serve the domestic and sahalien regions.

He said the project was scheduled to be executed over a period of eighteen months after the design approval.

He said the development of the airport would among other things support domestic air travel, improve airport revenue, rectify deficiencies in aviation infrastructure, eco-tourism and cultural tourism as well as support the agricultural sector by leveraging exports of fresh produce and agro-based industries.

Michael Coffie Boampong, noted that upon concerns expressed by the committee, the Minister for Roads and Transport assured that the critical guiding aircraft to be used as standard for designing the runway would be the Boeing 747/8.

He disclosed that, "the works for the first phase includes strengthening and extensions of the existing runway pavement to a 4000m length, widening and strengthening of main taxi-links to the apron, expansion of existing apron to accommodate three wide-bodied medium -sized aircrafts and rehabilitation of existing taxiway."

The works he said would also include the construction of an inner perimeter fence of height 2.4m above existing round level as well as the construction of access roads on both sides of the inner perimeter fence.

Members of the House who contributed to the motion lauded the project and observed that the upgrading of the airport would also enable pilgrims from the Sahelian region to use the airport during pilgrimage.