Brazil approves Ghana’s request to finance $173.2m Tamale International Airport project

The Brazilian government has approved a request from Ghana to consider financing the Tamale International Airport project in the Northern Region.

Upgrading the Tamale Airport is estimated to cost $173.2 million, according to a capital investment programme prepared by the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) seen by ghanabusinessnews.com in February 2012.

If discussions are finalized, a Brazilian company Queiroz Galvao will handle the construction, which is to be financed by Brazil’s national EXIM bank BNDES, according to an official  statement published on the Ghana government’s website today June 4, 2012.

The company has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Transport, and completed the necessary designs and phasing for the works.

The request was made by Vice President John Mahama to the Brazilian government during his recent visit to that country. “…the Brazilian authorities said the request is feasible and are ready to urgently finalise discussions,” the statement said.

Officials say the airport project will start with the expansion of the runway to accommodate large body aircrafts and also the construction of an international standard terminal building.

The next phase will be the provision of ancillary services including hangers, maintenance area, catering and ground handling while the last phase will be the construction of a cargo village targeting fresh fruit farmers that are setting up camp in the Savanna regions and the various processing companies being set up in the area, the government statement indicated.

The Tamale International Airport, which will be managed by the Ghana Airport Company Limited, will be self-financing and will repay the financing from its operations, according to Vice President Mahama.

Mr Mahama also met with the management of Queiroz Galvao led by the President and CEO, Marcus de Queiroz Galvao in Brasilia to further discuss the project.

By Ekow Quandzie