I Look Forward to Direct International Flights to Kumasi Soon- Asantehene
Six months after the state-of-the-art Prempeh I International Airport was commissioned, the facility has been functional however, under-utilized.
It currently operates only domestic flights. It is in this spirit that Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene called for measures to make it fully functional.
His Majesty is not satisfied with this and therefore looks forward to direct international flights to the capital of the Ashanti Region as soon as possible.
He has charged the Board Chairman of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), Paul Adom Otchere and the Managing Director of the Company, Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare to expedite the needed agreements and paper works to make that a reality.
“What I now look forward to are direct international flights. Paul and my daughter (Yvonne) I charge you with it. You promised to bring in international airlines, make sure you honour that to make the facility effective. I want to see flights from London to Kumasi, Hamburg to Kumasi and vice versa.”
Additionally, Otumfuo urged them to expedite the construction of key appendages which had been delayed by some claims to parts of the Airport land.
“The whole land has been given to GACL for an airport. No one has a right over it. The lease on the land is one for an Airport. Take out all people on it and finish the work before your tenure ends.”
It may be recalled that during the commissioning of the facility in May 2024, the Managing Director of the GACL, Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare announced that over six international airlines are projected to operate flights at the new facility.
Among them, she said, were the British Airways, Asky Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airwaves, Tap Portugal, and Kenya Airways.
The Prempeh I International Airport with the capacity to handle 800,000 passengers per annum, and process 200 passengers per hour, is fitted with 2 passenger boarding bridges, a Presidential lounge and three (3) other lounges; four (4) Boarding Gates; four (4) Self-Service Check-in Kiosks; nine (9) Check-in Desks; and sixteen (16) Immigration booths.
It also has Airline and Staff offices, a large Commercial Retail area, a Currency Declaration office, a Forex Bureau, a visa-on-arrival facility, an automated car park, a Multipurpose Faith room, a dedicated area for unaccompanied minors, modern Baggage Handling Systems and a Medical Facility among others.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
