The Upper East Region will receive a new airport funded through a dedicated airport development levy, a government official announced while discussing the 2026 budget.
Casper Sunday Kampoli, Director of Research and Innovation at the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, said the levy demonstrates the government’s commitment to connecting the region.
“Our airport is coming. There is dedicated funding,” Mr. Kampoli told A1 Radio. “The airport development levy … is going to be used to renovate and rehabilitate the Tamale Airport and then construct our Upper East Airport.”
The Ghana Airport Company will collect the levy to fund the project, eliminating questions about financing sources, Mr. Kampoli said.
The new airport would significantly reduce travel times. Currently, flights from Accra to Tamale take about one hour, followed by a two-and-a-half-hour drive to Bolgatanga. Travelers to Navrongo, Bawku, or Garu face an additional hour or more.
“When you produce, you can cut them straight from Bolga here to Accra. You can buy things straight from Accra to Bolga,” Mr. Kampoli said. “This country must be connected from end to end. You don’t have certain parts of the country cut away.”
The 2026 budget also includes major agricultural investments for northern Ghana, where 80% of residents are farmers, Kampoli said. The government plans to establish 50 farmer service centers equipped with 660 tractors, 200 mini tractors, 200 tractor trailers and combine harvesters — totaling about 4,000 farm machinery units.
The budget allocates funding for 1,000 kilometers of agricultural roads to improve farm-to-market access. Food inflation has declined from 23.7% to 9.8% over the past year, partly due to improved transportation infrastructure, Mr. Kampoli said.
“If you’re a farmer, have hope in this government. There are a lot of interventions,” he said.
The government is also supporting poultry farmers through partnerships and providing resources to help young entrepreneurs establish businesses.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson presented the budget to Parliament on Thursday. The spending plan emphasizes infrastructure development, with GH₵33 billion allocated for projects nationwide.
Source: a1radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Bolgatanga
