UE/R: SOCO PROJECT FACILITATORS URGED TO WORK HARD FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT – DCE NABDAM
BY: ATUIMAH VALERIOUS
The Paga Youth Movement (PAYOM), representing the Kassena-Nankana community, held a press conference at Kubs Lodge in Paga to advocate for the upgrading of the existing Paga-Navrongo Airstrip into a full-fledged regional airport. The movement expressed appreciation for President John Dramani Mahama’s directive for the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) to seek private investors for a regional airport in the Upper East Region through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
PAYOM emphasized that their advocacy is not a selfish endeavor but a call for the most cost-effective, technically feasible, and economically viable approach to establishing a regional airport anywhere in the Upper East Region. The movement’s press statement, titled “Upgrading the Paga-Navrongo Airstrip, a cost-effective and strategic option for a regional airport,” highlighted their extensive consultations with traditional rulers and stakeholders within the Kassena-Nankana area, who have given their blessings for this initiative. Special guests at the press conference included the elders and pioneers of PAYOM; stakeholders from CKT-UTAS; representatives from clearing agents at the border, Tricycle (Cando) Riders Association, Taxi drivers, identifiable youth bases, and all 13 electoral areas in Paga.
The Paga Youth Movement raised concerns about a perceived “one-sided approach” by officials of the GACL and the Upper East Regional Minister, suggesting that a new site at Anateem, north of Bolgatanga, is being promoted without assessing the Paga-Navrongo Airstrip, which has served Ghana for over 50 years. They questioned why a new site approximately 50 kilometers from Bolgatanga and 30 kilometers from the Paga border is being favored, given the Paga-Navrongo Airstrip’s proximity to neighboring Burkina Faso as a justification for siting the regional airport there. PAYOM stated that this disregard for fairness, transparency, and proper stakeholder engagement is unacceptable, as Ghanaians deserve to know what informs the government’s decision on the airport project’s location.
Also present were representatives of the youth parliament, KNWD, and each of the paramount chiefs in the Kassena Nankani area. The Paramount Chief of Kayoro and the elders of the Paga Pio were also present. The executive members of PAYOM were also present.
The Paga-Navrongo Airstrip, constructed in 1939 and completed in 1940 by the colonial administration for military purposes, is considered a historically significant and strategically positioned national asset. Feasibility studies by previous governments have consistently affirmed that upgrading it into a domestic airport is both financially and technically feasible. The movement believes that investors would find greater value in upgrading an existing airstrip with foundational infrastructure, significantly reducing the required capital investment compared to a new site.
The economic and strategic benefits of upgrading the Paga-Navrongo Airstrip were outlined as follows:
- Proximity to Burkina Faso and Economic Gains:Its location near Ghana’s border with Burkina Faso offers a crucial gateway for cross-border trade and movement, enhancing trade with Sahel countries like Mali and Niger, and reinforcing Ghana’s position as a trade hub.
- Tourism and Investment Opportunities:Paga is home to major tourist attractions such as the Crocodile Ponds and the Tikoro Slave Camp. An airport would boost tourism, stimulate local businesses, and enhance investor confidence, especially with growing interest from African-Americans and Europeans in investing in the Upper East Region.
- Security and Emergency Response:Given ongoing security threats in the Sahel region, an upgraded airstrip would enhance Ghana’s security preparedness for rapid deployment of forces, making it an ideal location for proactive responses to emerging threats.
- Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs:A regional airport would offer significant opportunities for academic and cultural exchange programs with francophone neighbors, promoting deeper integration through collaborations and cross-cultural engagements.
- Overwhelming Traditional and Community Support:The 10 paramount chiefs of the Kassena-Nankana area previously advocated for the airstrip’s elevation to an airport in June 2020, and their continued endorsement underscores widespread public backing.
The Paga Youth Movement urged the GACL to conduct a thorough and competitive assessment of the Paga-Navrongo Airstrip, similar to the one done for the Anateem site, to enable informed decisions based on technical feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and strategic benefits. They expressed readiness to facilitate and support such a visit. They also appealed to the government and private investors to consider upgrading the existing airstrip as the most practical and financially prudent option, urging investors to seize this opportunity for high returns with minimal investment.
In response to questions from the press, the group confirmed that all stakeholders had been officially engaged but they are yet to receive any formal response. Regarding concerns about all planes entering Burkina Faso airspace before landing, the group stated they have not seen any document to support such a claim.
The Paga Youth Movement, alongside the Kassena-Nankana community, reaffirmed their commitment to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to make the vision of an airport in the Upper East Region a reality, leveraging the strengths of an existing asset for maximum impact for Ghana and beyond.
