President John Dramani Mahama has urged institutions and stakeholders to pursue infrastructure development without relying solely on government funding, saying such initiatives are what Ghana needs to accelerate national development.
He made the remarks at the sod-cutting ceremony for the Multi-Tiered, Multi-Purpose Car Park and Airport Hotels Complex at the Accra International Airport.
The President revealed that the government had not provided any funding for the projects and commended the Minister of Transport and other stakeholders involved in the initiative.
“The Government of Ghana has not given any of the two institutions one single Cedi for these projects. I wish to commend the Minister of Transport and all those associated with this project. This is what we want to see. Develop our country, but don’t go to Ato Forson (Finance Minister) and ask for money,” President Mahama said.
The project will feature two hotels, a pedestrian connector linking the complex to the terminal and more than 2,000 parking bays. It will also include a shopping mall with a food court, retail and office spaces, as well as a sky lounge and sky observatory for aircraft viewing.
President Mahama urged the contractor and consultants to ensure quality, value for money and timely completion of the projects. He called for strict adherence to project specifications, rigorous cost controls and continuous supervision to ensure the projects remain on schedule.
“Deadlines must be treated seriously. Cost controls must be rigorous. Supervision must be continuous,” he said.
He also urged the project managers to identify and resolve any challenges that could affect the schedule or quality of the projects. President Mahama further directed that airport users be given advance notice of traffic diversions and other construction-related disruptions to minimise inconvenience.
