Second Phase of Kumasi International Airport commissioned; renamed Prempeh I International Airport
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo and Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, have officially commissioned the Prempeh I International Airport, formerly known as Kumasi International Airport.
On Friday, May 10, many government representatives, traditional authorities and prominent personalities of the New Patriotic Party, graced the occasion.
Speaking at the ceremony, the President expressed his joy, indicating that the commissioning of the airport draws attention to his unwavering dedication to buttress the country’s infrastructure to meet the evolving demands of Ghanaians and further position Ghana as a prosperous nation in Africa.
The President emphasized that the commissioning of the Prempeh I International Airport coincides with the silverjubilee celebration of the Asantehene hence makes it a suitable homage to the rich cultural heritage of the Ashanti people and a classical legacy of the Ashanti Kingdom.
“Renaming the Kumasi International Airport to honour Otumfuo Agyemang Prempeh I and commissioning it alongside the 25th anniversary celebration of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s enstoolment highlights the profound respect my government accords to traditional institutions and occasions of this sort”, the President said.
“Also, transforming the Kumasi International Airport into Prempeh I International Airport, Kumasi, represents more than just bricks and mortar. This is an embodiment of renovation, excellence and collaboration that defines the Ghanaian people. Through careful planning, dedication and hardwork, our vision is now a reality and today we reap the fruits of our labor”, he stated.
The President also stressed on the fact that many historians agree that Otumfuo Osei Agyemang Prempeh I played a vital role in strengthening the Ashanti Kingdom during his reign in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Again, he recounted that during the heightened strife between the British and the Ashanti’s, resulting in the Sagrenti war, won by the British and leading to the arrest of Otumfuo Agyemang Prempeh and ensuing exile to Sierra Leone and Seychelles, he lost to his opponents on the ground on which the Prempeh I International Airport is currently situated.
The President admonished the Ghana Airport Company Limited, to preserve the premises as a historic site.
He also emphasized that the commissioning of the airport serves as a tribute to Prempeh I’s enduring legacy and he further expressed positivity towards the importance of the airport to travelers and businesses in the Ashanti region and beyond.
H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo urged residents of Kumasi to capitalize on the benefits of the airport to the progress of the region and Ghana as a whole.
“Prior to the commissioning of the Prempeh I InternationalAirport, Kumasi, the nation recognizes this a vessel to a refined chapter to the nation’s growth and prosperity.”
“Let us work collectively to build a bright, prosperous and promising future for generations to come”, the President concluded.
By Bridget Anteh