President Mahama Cuts Sod For Multi-Purpose Car Park And Commercial Complex At Accra Airport

President John Dramani Mahama has cut the sod for the construction of a seven-storey multi-purpose car park and commercial complex at Terminal 3 of the Accra International Airport.

The development is expected to provide about 2,030 covered parking spaces, as well as hotels, retail outlets, offices, entertainment facilities, and a pedestrian connection to the terminal.

The project is part of efforts to expand infrastructure at Ghana’s main international gateway as passenger numbers continue to rise.

Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony on Thursday, President Mahama said the government’s objective was not only to attract more passengers but also to make Ghana a preferred destination and transit point while strengthening its position as an aviation hub in Africa.

Passenger traffic at the airport increased from 1.8 million in 2022 to 2.5 million in 2025, according to figures cited by the president.

The new complex will include two hotels, a shopping mall with a food court, retail and office spaces, a sky lounge and a sky observatory for viewing aircraft taking off and landing. A covered pedestrian connector will link the development directly to Terminal 3.

The two hotels are planned to include a 120-room five-star facility and a 250-room three-star hotel, catering to different categories of travellers.

The development follows the closure and relocation of the existing Terminal 3 car park in July to make way for construction.

Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) said an alternative car park with capacity for more than 600 vehicles had been provided during the construction period.

The existing Terminal 3 car park had been identified as inadequate for growing passenger demand. The new facility is expected to significantly increase parking capacity while making better use of the limited space available within the airport enclave.

The project is expected to take about 24 months to complete. GACL said in August that the contractor had been handed over the site and was mobilising for construction.

The new car park is also expected to operate a cashless and ticketless system, with automated access control and vehicle identification to reduce delays at entry and exit points.

President Mahama also highlighted other ongoing airport infrastructure projects, including a new Ghana Civil Aviation Authority control tower, refurbishment of Terminal 2 and a new concourse linking Terminals 2 and 3.

He said the projects were being financed from the balance sheets of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and GACL rather than through direct government funding.

GACL says Terminal 3 was designed to handle up to five million passengers a year and can process 1,250 passengers per hour. The terminal has six boarding bridges, retail facilities, and dedicated business and transit facilities.

The latest development is therefore intended to complement the terminal’s existing capacity by expanding ground facilities and adding hospitality and commercial services around the airport.

President Mahama also called for professionalism, discipline, and courtesy among aviation-sector workers as Ghana seeks to improve the experience of passengers using its airports.