The youth of the Northern Region are expected to tap into the economic benefits that will accompany the upgrade of the Tamale Airport to an international standard.

President John Dramani Mahama has performed a sod cutting ceremony for the $100-million project that is expected to be completed in September next year.

Already, preparatory works have commenced on the upgrading and expansion project by Brazilian contractors, Queiroz Galvao, with testing of the soil and taking measurements for the actual physical works to commence. The contractors have also put finishing touches to their accommodation and office structures, comprising warehouses, a laboratory, a canteen and a medical centre at the Air Force base in Tamale.

The first phase of the project consists of the extension of the runway from the current 2,480 metres to about 3,940 metres and the installation of a complete lighting system to accommodate bigger aircrafts.

The airport would serve hundreds of Muslims in the northern part of the country and neighbouring countries on their annual pilgrimage to Mecca, while supporting the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) in the export of perishable goods, especially fruits and vegetables, to Europe.