The National Democratic Congress has debunked claims by the Works and Housing Minister, Francis Asenso Boakye implying that the Kumasi Airport Redevelopment Project is a legacy of the ruling New Patriotic Party administration led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The party’s National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi Esq. in a statement, strongly asserted that the claims by the Works and Housing Minister about the Kumasi Airport Redevelopment Project being the achievement of current administration are untrue.
“I have just sighted a video excerpt of an interview between ace broadcaster, Bola Ray and the Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Asenso Boakye. In the said video, the Minister for Roads who doubles as the Member of Parliament for the Bantama Constituency, is seen struggling to mention just five (5) major achievements of the ruling NPP in their stronghold, the Ashanti region.
“After much fumbling, the visibly confused and nervous Minister stated among other things that, “the Kumasi Airport is now an international airport” and that this is the achievement of the ruling NPP government. This claim by Asenso Boakye is palpably false”
Sammy Gyamfi Esq.
Mr Gyamfi further argued that the Member of Parliament for Bantama Constituency in the Ashanti Region’s claims is a desperate attempt to appropriate the legacy of the former President, John Dramani Mahama.
The National Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress began by stating that the Kumasi International Airport Redevelopment Project which is a three-phased project was started by former President John Dramani Mahama.
He recounted that Phase one of the project was completed in the year 2014 for $USD29 million with the construction of a new 1,981-meter runway, modern Instrument Landing Systems, and the provision of Aeronautical Ground Lighting, to make night flights possible.
Furthermore, Lawyer Sammy Gyamfi posited that on November 2, 2016, former President John Dramani Mahama secured and had Parliament approve €66.35 million, which was equivalent to $77.977 million from Banco Santander S.A of Spain for Phase two of the project.
He noted that phase two of the project comprised a modern one million passenger-a-year capacity terminal building with three air bridges, multiple service facilities, and the extension of the runway to 2,300 meters to accommodate larger aircraft.
Even though the National Democratic Congress National Communications Officer admitted that it was President Akufo-Addo’s administration that secured € 58.9 million, which is equivalent to 69.6 million from Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, for Phase 3 of the project, he strongly opined that the project cannot be credited to the current administration.
He emphasized that former President John Dramani Mahama cut the sod for the commencement of phase two of the project on 5th December 2016, by which time the contractor was already on site.
The International Status Of Kumasi Airport
Moreover, Lawyer Sammy Gyamfi asserted that the Kumasi Airport’s status as an international airport, albeit to a moderate extent, was realized under former President John Dramani Mahama’s administration, following the successful execution of phase one.
Mr Gyamfi further rejected claims by Francis Asenso Boakye, stating that the Kumasi Airport was made an international airport by the ruling New Patriotic Party administration.
“The Kumasi Airport became an International Airport, albeit to a moderate extent, after the completion of Phase One (1) of the Kumasi International Airport Redevelopment project in the year 2014. President John Mahama flew from Vienna, Austria to Kumasi in the Presidential jet for a meeting with the Otumfour in 2015”
Sammy Gyamfi Esq.
He firmly underscored that the completion and operationalization of Phases 2 and 3 are pending, with concurrent implementation to optimize cost-effectiveness.
The National Democratic Congress National Communications Officer concluded his statement by chastising the governing New Patriotic Party administration on its failure to undertake any significant project in the Ashanti Region since it assumed office in 2017.
He accused President Akufo-Addo and his administration of failing and taking for granted the overwhelming support of the good people of the Ashanti Region towards the ruling New Patriotic Party.
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