The Paga Youth Movement (PAYOM) has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama and the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) to prioritize the transformation of the historic Paga/Navrongo Airstrip into a regional airport, citing its strategic location, historical significance, and cost-effective potential.
At a press conference, PAYOM’s Public Relations Officer, Desmond Ayambire Abire, welcomed President Mahama’s recent directive for a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to develop a regional airport in the Upper East Region, but raised concerns that the Paga/Navrongo site is being overlooked.
“Unnecessary decisions are being made without fairness, transparency, or proper stakeholder engagement regarding the proposed Upper East Regional Airport,” Abire stated.
He added that public discourse, particularly on radio and social media, suggests the Paga/Navrongo site may have been excluded in favour of other locations, despite its suitability.
PAYOM criticized GACL and the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council for failing to visit or assess the site, which dates back to 1939 and served both aviation and military purposes for over 50 years.
Referencing earlier feasibility studies led by the late Joseph Kofi Addah, former Aviation Minister, PAYOM emphasized that upgrading the existing airstrip is more financially prudent than constructing a new airport.
“Upgrading the Paga/Navrongo Airstrip will not only serve northern Ghana but also boost cross-border trade with landlocked countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger,” the group stated, highlighting its potential for regional economic integration.
PAYOM urged government and private investors to act swiftly:
“We respectfully urge the Government of Ghana, under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, to consider the Paga/Navrongo Airstrip as the most practical and cost-effective location for the Upper East regional airport.”
The group concluded by inviting private sector partners to invest in what they called a high-impact, infrastructure-ready project poised to transform northern Ghana and the Sahel corridor.
