President John Dramani Mahama has cut the sod for the construction of the $1.3 billion Sentuo Airport Garden City Project, a major mixed use development in the Airport City enclave of Accra, describing it as a clear signal that Ghana is open for investment.
The ceremony, held at 10 Giffard Road, Accra, marks the formal take off of what is being promoted as “The Garden Above Accra’’, a transformative project expected to reshape Accra’s hospitality, business and real estate landscape.
The development, being executed by the Sentuo Group led by Executive Chairman Xu Ningquan, will feature 582 premium apartments, a 600 room hotel, a 2,500 capacity conference facility, healthcare facilities, a shopping mall, landscaped gardens, as well as 503 parking bays within a four-storey apartment building and other commercial and leisure amenities.
President Mahama, who was Special Guest of Honour at the event, said while the facilities are substantial, the true value of the project would not be measured solely by scale.
“The true value of the project would not be measured solely by the number of scale of the buildings that were constructed but its contribution to the economy would also be measured by the quality of the urban environment that it creates and above all by the opportunities that it delivers to the Ghanaian people.”
Prez. Mahama
He commended the Sentuo Group for its confidence in the Ghanaian economy and stressed that the project must deliver beyond infrastructure. During construction, the President said, Ghanaian engineers, architects, artisans, technicians, suppliers and other local businesses must have meaningful opportunities to participate in the development. Young people, he added, should benefit from apprenticeships, practical training and deliberate skills transfer.
He commended the Sentuo Group for its confidence in the Ghanaian economy and stressed that the project must deliver beyond infrastructure. During construction, the President said, Ghanaian engineers, architects, artisans, technicians, suppliers and other local businesses must have meaningful opportunities to participate in the development. Young people, he added, should benefit from apprenticeships, practical training and deliberate skills transfer.
“The economic benefits of this development must endure long after construction is complete. The hotel, conference, residential apartments, retail outlets and healthcare facilities will require a wide range of goods and services.”
Prez. Mahama
This should create sustained opportunities for Ghanaian entrepreneurs, support decent jobs and stimulate economic activity well beyond the project site,” he said. He encouraged the developers to treat local content not merely as a regulatory obligation but as a central measure of the project’s success.
“Our message to the world is clear: Ghana is open for investment. Ghana is ready for partnership. Ghana is building for the future”.
Prez. Mahama
He linked the project to his government’s Reset agenda and its 24-Hour Economy ambition, noting that sectors such as aviation, hospitality and events could sustain activity across different working hours if backed by dependable services and professional management.
President Mahama also expressed hope that the new conference infrastructure would strengthen Ghana’s position as a leading destination for major international events, including United Nations conferences, allowing Accra to compete more strongly for global gatherings.
Government Welcomes Major Investment for Development
The President was accompanied at the sod cutting ceremony by some Ministers of State including the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, who expressed appreciation for the significant investment being made in Ghana.
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare commended the investors for their confidence in Ghana’s economy and described the project as an important addition to the country’s growing portfolio of major private-sector investments.
She praised President Mahama for his support and backing for major initiatives being undertaken to accelerate Ghana’s economic transformation, promote investment and create opportunities for Ghanaians.
According to the Trade Minister, projects of this scale are critical to driving demand for local goods and services, from building materials to hospitality supply chains, aligning with government’s broader industrialization and agribusiness value-addition agenda.
Economic Opportunities and Infrastructure
The project is expected to generate significant economic opportunities through investment, job creation and increased demand for local goods and services across various sectors. Construction is expected to create work for engineers, artisans and technicians, while hospitality operations will support chefs, housekeepers, suppliers and transport operators.
Conferences are expected to bring business to event organisers, creative professionals, restaurants and local enterprises. To support the growing developments in the Airport enclave, President Mahama announced that government will redesign the road network in the area.
“I want to announce that the Ministry of Roads and Highways and Urban Roads have started looking at the road network in the airport enclave and the central business district. Because as developments like this come up, definitely the traffic congestion will also grow. So, we need to widen the roads, create a system of one-ways, and improve the road network.”
Prez. Mahama
The President noted that the Airport enclave is the first impression for many visitors to Ghana and must be developed in a coordinated manner. He recalled that on August 27, he broke ground for a seven storey development at the Accra International Conference Centre within the same enclave, comprising 2,030 parking bays, two hotels and commercial facilities.
The residential concept offers homes within a development that also provides space for hospitality, shopping and recreation bringing everyday services and opportunities for leisure into the same setting.
