USTDA Grant Supports Aviation Infrastructure Improvements in Ghana
March 29, 2012
(USTDA)
ACCRA, GHANA – The U.S. Trade and Development
Agency (USTDA) awarded a grant today to the
Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to help
create design documents for the construction of
the Kotoka International Airport Air Traffic
Control Center.
The $322,560 grant was signed at the U.S.
Embassy in Accra by U.S. Ambassador Donald
Teitelbaum and GCAA Director General Air
Commodore (Rtd) Kwame Mamphrey. It will fund a
technical assistance program that will produce
technical design drawings for the control
center. The technical assistance program will
also develop documents necessary for procuring
the goods and services required to implement
the construction project. Currently, GCAA has
selected LPA Group Incorporated, a
transportation consulting firm based in
Columbia, S.C., to carry out the technical
assistance.
The technical assistance program builds upon a
previous USTDA-funded feasibility study, which
provided a preliminary analysis of the
equipment and facilities needed to construct
the Air Traffic Control Center. The program
compliments a separate project USTDA is
involved in, which entails refurbishing a
passenger terminal at the same airport.
Air traffic in Ghana has increased
significantly over the past several years due
to strong economic growth and the discovery of
oil in the country. In order to support the
rapid increase in air traffic, Ghana has been
expanding its aviation infrastructure,
including the Kotoka International Airport. The
construction of the Air Traffic Control Center
will also improve the capacity of the airport
and enhance aviation safety in the region.
USTDA Regional Director Paul Marin said the
recent USTDA grant symbolizes the Agency's
continued support for Ghana's aviation sector
improvements.
"USTDA has been deeply involved with Ghana's
aviation infrastructure projects from an early
stage," Marin said. "Since 2000 we have
supported improvements at three different
airports in the region, which has had a
positive impact on the country's economy and
created business opportunities for U.S.
companies."
If implemented, the construction of the Kotoka
International Airport Air Traffic Control
Center could generate tens of millions of
dollars in U.S. exports of equipment and
services. Items like air-to-ground
communication systems and satellite naviation
services would be necessary to complete the
construction of the control center.
Historically U.S. companies have been highly
competitive in supplying the materials and
expertise needed for air traffic management on
a global scale.
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