How to resolve AdBlock issue? Togbe Afede’s Push for Pilot Training School Faces Delays at Ho Airport
Thursday, 05 December 2024 | Ghana
Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State in the Volta Region, has initiated efforts to establish a Pilot Training School at the Ho Airport. The proposed facility aims to provide aviation services and train pilots and other aviation personnel, offering a significant boost to the region's economy and job creation. However, despite progress made by Togbe Afede, the project faces delays attributed to inaction by the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL).
In a statement issued by the Asogli State Council, it was revealed that Togbe Afede, through his private company, paid $32,445 to the GACL on June 26, 2023, as a 30% deposit towards the land allocation required for the school. This payment, which represents part of the agreed amount, was intended to secure the project’s development. Yet, more than a year later, GACL has reportedly made no effort to facilitate the commencement of the initiative.
Stephen Tetteh, the secretary to the Asogli State, criticized the GACL for its lack of responsiveness, describing it as a failure to fulfill their promise. “About one and a half years ago, Togbe paid the required deposit, but there has been no follow-up action from the airport authority to move the project forward,” he stated.
The proposed Pilot Training School is part of a broader vision to revitalise the Ho Airport, which has remained largely unused since its completion in September 2018. Built at a cost of $25 million, the airport features a 1,900-meter runway, a terminal with a capacity for 150,000 passengers annually, VIP facilities, and an air traffic control tower, among other amenities. Despite these modern features, the airport has been dubbed a "white elephant," as it has failed to attract commercial operations.
Togbe Afede’s project seeks to address this underutilization by introducing an aviation training hub that could breathe new life into the airport and the surrounding region. The Asogli State Council emphasized the potential economic benefits, noting that the training school would not only generate employment but also enhance air travel to and from the Volta Region.
In their statement, the council also attributed the current state of the Ho Airport to poor management and a lack of vision by those responsible for its operations. They argued that the failure to make the airport functional is not due to the construction process but rather the negligence of decision-makers.
The delays in launching the Pilot Training School highlight broader challenges in Ghana’s infrastructure development, where completed projects often fall into disuse due to insufficient planning, management, or political will.
Togbe Afede’s determination to bring this project to fruition is seen as a beacon of hope for the Volta Region, offering the potential to transform the defunct airport into a thriving aviation center. However, the GACL’s cooperation remains a critical factor in ensuring the realization of this vision.
In a statement issued by the Asogli State Council, it was revealed that Togbe Afede, through his private company, paid $32,445 to the GACL on June 26, 2023, as a 30% deposit towards the land allocation required for the school. This payment, which represents part of the agreed amount, was intended to secure the project’s development. Yet, more than a year later, GACL has reportedly made no effort to facilitate the commencement of the initiative.
Stephen Tetteh, the secretary to the Asogli State, criticized the GACL for its lack of responsiveness, describing it as a failure to fulfill their promise. “About one and a half years ago, Togbe paid the required deposit, but there has been no follow-up action from the airport authority to move the project forward,” he stated.
The proposed Pilot Training School is part of a broader vision to revitalise the Ho Airport, which has remained largely unused since its completion in September 2018. Built at a cost of $25 million, the airport features a 1,900-meter runway, a terminal with a capacity for 150,000 passengers annually, VIP facilities, and an air traffic control tower, among other amenities. Despite these modern features, the airport has been dubbed a "white elephant," as it has failed to attract commercial operations.
Togbe Afede’s project seeks to address this underutilization by introducing an aviation training hub that could breathe new life into the airport and the surrounding region. The Asogli State Council emphasized the potential economic benefits, noting that the training school would not only generate employment but also enhance air travel to and from the Volta Region.
In their statement, the council also attributed the current state of the Ho Airport to poor management and a lack of vision by those responsible for its operations. They argued that the failure to make the airport functional is not due to the construction process but rather the negligence of decision-makers.
The delays in launching the Pilot Training School highlight broader challenges in Ghana’s infrastructure development, where completed projects often fall into disuse due to insufficient planning, management, or political will.
Togbe Afede’s determination to bring this project to fruition is seen as a beacon of hope for the Volta Region, offering the potential to transform the defunct airport into a thriving aviation center. However, the GACL’s cooperation remains a critical factor in ensuring the realization of this vision.
- Ghana Decides | HoAirport | InfrastructureDevelopment | PilotTrainingSchool | TogbeAfede | VoltaRegion