Tamale Airport, others to get facelift with UK loan
The Tamale Airport, the Kumasi Market and the Bekwai Government Hospital, will soon witness various levels of construction activity following some money secured by government.
Government is securing a 56 million dollar loan facility, a 20 million Euro loan and an additional 80 million Euro donation from the UK government to undertake such projects.
According to Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who led a team to London for the UK-Ghana Business Council meetings, the British government pledged its support in upgrading the facilities to reaffirm its commit to Ghana’s development.
It is unclear what conditions are attached to the loans, but addressing journalists upon his arrival, Dr. Bawumia said the meeting was also used to explore new strategies and opportunities to enhance trade and investment between both countries.
“We have reached discussions in terms of deepening the cooperation between the two countries. At the end of the day, the UK announced financial support for three major projects in Ghana. We had about an 80 million euros support for phase 2 of the Kumasi market.
“We had 56 million dollars support for an international terminal at Tamale Airport and we had 20 million euros support to complete the Bekwai hospital which has been in a state of uncompletion for quite a while. And I think that this support is part of a package of other projects that are in the pipeline which will also be announced later in the year,” said the Vice President.
The UK’s Minister for Africa, Mrs. Harriet Baldwin, announced the funding support on Tuesday, February 26, 2019, at the end of the second UK-Ghana Business Council (UKGBC) Meetings held in London, UK.
“We will be backing the modernization of Kumasi Central Market with a total of 80 million Euros in support of this major trading centre. It’s visited by over 800,000 people every day and it will see upgrades of its electrical networks, its water supplies, its generators, its fire detection systems and it’s public transport.
“Second, we will be backing the expansion of Tamale Airport which will include the construction of a modern, new International terminal building. It’s a $56 million US loan which will enable the airport’s expansion to improve tourist access and promote economic growth as well as benefiting Hajj pilgrims with a new multi-purpose facility,” she added.
The meetings, co-chaired by Mrs Baldwin and the Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, brought together Ministers and other government officials from both countries as well as captains of industry to deliberate on ways to deepen business and other ties between the two countries.
The London meetings explored new strategies and opportunities to enhance trade and investment between the two countries.
The UK-Ghana Business Council will meet again in Accra in October 2019.
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Source: citinewsroom