The Bolgatanga, Nangodi, Bongo and Tongo (BONABOTO), an advocacy civil society organisation (CSO) is urging the government to include in the 2023 Budget Statement and Financial Policy, budgetary allocation for the construction of the Upper East Regional Airport.
When this is done, there would now be a firm assurance that the government is committed to the construction and completion of the airport.
Dr. Samuel Antitono said this when he spoke on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East Show today, Monday, August 8, 2022.
Dr. Atintono also explained that while some preliminary work has been done on the site at Sumbrungu by the previous government, a total revaluation of the project site may be needed.
“We have had to go back to some old documents, about 20, 30 years ago about the feasibility studies. Even if you a constructing a building and you leave it, at some point you would want to go back to see whether whatever you have put there, can you continue, or you would have to knock it down.”
“This site has been there for so long a time. A report is before the president, he knows the details about it. It is taken from that perspective that they need to get back to see what exactly they are to do,” he said.
Admitting that the project is a capital-intensive one, Dr. Atintono recommended the addition of same to the 2023 Budget Statement and Financial Policy.
“Construction of an airport is capital intensive. We are in July now and by November, a budget would be read. Once we have started this conversation, it, therefore, means that exploring the public funding sources of the project is needed. We must be certain and definite about how these things can be done. Some efforts, I know, are being made to ensure that we secure funding for the airport.”
“Hopefully, before the end of the year, that could be done. Therefore, it could be part of the budget that would be read,” he said.
Earlier, the Bolgatanga, Nangodi, Bongo and Tongo (BONABOTO), an advocacy civil society organisation (CSO) says it has been vindicated by comments about the location of the Upper East Regional Airport by the Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu.
It would be recalled that the Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, in an exclusive interview with A1 Radio, gave a firm indication that stakeholders have finally settled on having the airport situated at Sumbrungu.
A decision, he said is final.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
