Joined by the Asantehene last Friday, President Akufo-Addo said the event coincided with the 25th Anniversary celebrations of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II enstoolment, befitting the rich cultural heritage and historical legacy of the Ashanti kingdom.
With a capacity to accommodate over 800,000 passengers annually, the International Airport is undergoing equipment testing for local and international flights and is expected to commence operations by June.
President Akufo-Addo said renaming the Kumasi International Airport was to honour Otumfuo Agyemang Prempeh I and doing so during the 25th Anniversary Asantehene’s anniversary showed the profound respect and reverence his government accords to traditional institutions.
“The transformation of Kumasi Airport into Prempeh I International Airport, Kumasi represents more than just bricks and mortar. It embodies the spirit of renovation, excellence and collaboration that defines the Ghanaian people.
“Through meticulous planning, hard work and dedication, we have turned the vision into reality and today we reap the fruits of our neighbour,” he said.
He expressed his government’s commitment to nurturing Ghana’s aviation sector to compete effectively within the West Africa region and globally.
Travellers in the Ashanti Region and beyond, President Akufo-Addo indicated, would be relieved of the stress and the hassle of traveling all along to Accra to board international flights.
In the last few years, the aviation sector has seen significant infrastructural development and service expansion, coupled with the implementation of the open skies policy.
The President re-emphasised Otumfuo Agyemang Prempeh I pivotal role in consolidating the Ashanti kingdom during his reign in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
“During his reign, he faced significant challenges, including colonial encroachment and internal strife but his leadership and vision were instrumental in shaping the destiny of the Ashanti people.”
He reminisced the heightened tensions between the Ashantis and the British, which culminated in the Sagrenti War, unfortunately won by the British, and which led to the King’s arrest and subsequent exile to Sierra Leone and Seychelles.
“His final steps on Ghanaian soil were taken on the very grounds on which the airport now stands,” President Akufo-Addo indicated.
The President asked the Ghana Airport Company Limited to ensure the preservation of the premises as a historic site.
He said the airport would now serve as an important gateway to forge stronger economic ties support international trade and tourism and promote cultural exchanges.
“Let us work hand-in-hand to build a future that is bright, prosperous and full of promise for generations to come,” President Akufo-Addo urged Ghanaians.
Rex Mainoo Yeboah, ISD
