The Minister of Transport, Hon Kwaku Ofori Asiamah has visited the Upper West Region to have first hand experience on the challenges affecting the operation of commercial flight in the region.
According to him, the visit was occasioned with the inability of commercial flights to operate in the region due to some factors affecting the flight root.
Local air companies have not been able to fly to Wa since 30th March, 2020 due to the presence of masts in the fly path.
Briefing the Minister on the challenges affecting the Wa airport, a staff at the Wa airport, Mohammed Alhassan mentioned the airport apron, runway and telecommunication masts as the major factors impeding commercial flight in the region.
According to him, the apron is short and the presence of masts erected by telecommunication companies was a major concern.
Speaking on the purpose of his visit, Hon Kwaku Ofori Asiamah noted that he will collaborate with the telecommunication companies to remove the affected masts immediately.
After failing to pull down the masts, the Minister of Transport said it was his responsibility to remind the telecommunications to remove the masts for the safety of the people.
He added that the immediate challenge was to get the masts removed to clear the flying path of uncertainties.
The Sector Minister was also alarmed with the activities of some residents in encroaching the airport lands and he tasked the Regional Minister to end the phenomenon through lawful means.
After paying a courtesy call on the Wa Naa, Naa Seidu Fuseini Pelpuo IV, Hon Kwaku Ofori assured the Overlord of the Waala Traditional Council of government’s commitment to provide decent transportation as well as safety to the people.
On his part, the Upper West Regional Minister, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih said the inability of local air companies to fly to Wa has negatively affected the generality of the people.
“One of the concern of the Chiefs who paid a courtesy call on the president was the halting of commercial flights to the region.”
The Upper West Regional Minister expressed confidence in Kwaku Ofori Asiamah in his quest to bring back commercial flights to Wa While indicating that he will not allow the actions of one individual to mar the interest of the people.
He urged the Minister to translate his actions into words by removing the masts immediately and assured the Minister of his commitment to stop people from encroaching upon the airport land.
The Regional Minister Issued a stern warning to people who encroached the airport land saying “We will demolish structures if we have to.”
Narrating the negative impact of the lack of flight to the Upper West Region, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih noted that Doctors and Lecturers who wish to work in Wa as they stay in Accra has proved futile.
“The Wa Regional Hospital are in talks with consultants in some of the facilities in Accra. UBIDS wants to mount a law program but the lecturers are all in Accra.”
The Minister and his entourage visited the two masts posing threats to the the roots and tasked the authorities to get it removed immediately.
