Ghana’s Minister for Aviation, Joseph Kofi Ada has said that the Wa airstrip is expected to open to commercial air traffics next week.

Speaking during an inspection visit to the airstrip, Adda said, “I think it is fairly okay for us to start operations.”

“We would have come with a commercial airline, but we had to come ahead of them to certify the pressure that they need for the tarmac,” he told the press.

This means that direct flights from Accra to Wa will soon be possible.

According to the Aviation Minister, some tests still need to be run to assess the strength of the runway among other aspects of the airstrip.

“The technical people will do their testing. They will come back to us with reports by the weekend so we hope that by early next week, the operations will start.”

He also revealed that the Government had ended various agreements with local airlines to make more direct flights from Accra to Wa available.

“There are a few other airlines that are coming on board. I think one has just been granted the approval fully,” he added.

Expansion work on the Wa airstrip began in 2016 and although it was completed over a year ago, the airstrip has been closed to commercial traffic.

Work on the airstrip included an extension of the runway, expansion of the terminal building and fencing of the facility.

The airstrip currently boasts of a two-kilometre tarmac with a 40-metre width.

The Government hopes the operationalization of the airstrip will open up the region to the rest of the country and enhance trade.

By: ClaraDoku/techvoiceafrica.com