Founder and leader of Alagumgube, Gabriel Agambila, has expressed disappointment over what he describes as a complete lack of interest by Members of Parliament from the Upper East Region in efforts to construct an airport for the region. According to Mr. Agambila, despite several attempts to involve the MPs in the project—including formal letters and direct appeals—the MPs have neither visited the proposed site nor raised the matter on the floor of Parliament.
Alagumgube, an association dedicated to the development of the Upper East Region, earlier this year mobilised resources to clear and prepare a 2,885.72-hectare stretch of land at Sumbrungu-Anateem in the Bolgatanga Municipality for the construction of an airport. As part of this effort, the group began work on a planned 2,000-metre runway. Their efforts were acknowledged and commended by the Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company Limited, Yvonne Opare, who visited the site in April.
Speaking in an interview on A1 Radio, Mr. Agambila described how, despite the association’s determination to see the project through, the MPs from the region failed to show even minimal support. “None of them, as we speak, has stepped foot at the airport site to even see what we’re doing,” Mr. Agambila said. “They have never raised the issue of the airport on the floor of Parliament. And yet, they would be the very people to benefit directly if the airport becomes operational,” he added, visibly frustrated.
He explained that while the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority had planned to visit the site last month to assess key areas like the terminal and parking lots, the visit had to be postponed because the required cadastral plan was not yet ready. Preparing this document, Mr. Agambila said, initially came at a cost of GH¢98,000—a figure the association struggled to meet due to lack of funds.
It was only after intervention by the Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, who appealed on behalf of the association and even offered to stand as collateral, that the cost was reduced to GH¢68,000. Despite this reduction, the association still lacked the funds. “We travelled to Accra with the minister and went to see the MPs at their offices to ask for help. Sadly, none of them supported the cause,” Mr. Agambila recounted.
In a remarkable turn, a native of the Upper East Region based in Accra, whose identity Mr. Agambila declined to reveal, stepped in after learning of the association’s struggle. “He became angry and asked how much the money was. When we told him it was GH¢68,000, he wrote a cheque of GH¢70,000 for us on the spot,” Mr. Agambila said. The cheque was handed over to the Regional Minister, who then paid the Town and Country Planning Department to prepare the cadastral document.
Mr. Agambila lamented that it should not have taken the generosity of a single individual to move the project forward, stressing that MPs from the region ought to have championed the cause. “It is sad that our own MPs have shown no interest. Their actions show they do not have the region at heart; their only interest seems to be in winning the next election,” he said.
He also praised the community members of Sumbrungu-Anateem, who he said freely leased out the land to make the project possible, and the persistent efforts of the Regional Minister, who he described as instrumental in keeping the vision alive.
Despite the setbacks, Mr. Agambila remains hopeful. “By this week, the cadastral documents will be ready. The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and the Ghana Airports Company are only waiting for this document to commence the next phase of work,” he noted, adding that the project’s completion will mark a transformative milestone for the Upper East Region.
A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Bolgatanga
