Ghana is a great country featuring miles of panoramic western shores and coastlines, expansive lands dedicated to wildlife and of course the warmth and hospitality of Africans. However, this is not all; this African country enjoys peace, which is an elusive thing in other African countries. This makes Ghana a great destination for tourism, vacation, business and academics among other commitments.
No matter how great and attractive a country is, it is nothing without easy accessibility and presence of other infrastructures. Thus, it has to have airports that can receive both domestic and international flights. Ghana has some of the best airports in Africa. They are well equipped, secure and easily accessible from major urban centers in the country. Here is a list of the top 7 Airports in Ghana.
A Comprehensive List of 7 Best Airports in Ghana
1. Kotoka International Airport
This is the largest international airport in Ghana. Its International Air Transport Association (IATA) airport code is ACC while the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) airport code is DGAA. Kotoka is Ghana’s premier international airport and is capacious enough for large aircrafts such as the Boeing 747-8.
It is run by the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), which is tasked with the responsibility of planning, developing, managing and maintaining all airports and aerodromes in the country including KIA, Kumasi, Tamale, and Sunyani. In 2012, the airport served a whopping 2.269 million passengers. The airport serves both passenger airlines as well as cargo airlines.
2. Kumasi Airport
The IATA code for Kumasi airport is KMS, while the ICAO airport code is DGSI. The airport prides in being the second busiest airport in Ghana; only second to Kotoka International airport and also one of the best airports in Ghana. It is situated just 3.5 kilometers from Kumasi, the capital city of the Ashanti Region of this west African country.
The airport is currently undergoing upgrading to attain international airport status. This is supposed to end in the year 2015. The infrastructure to be added at a cost of $300 million include a 2-storey state-of-the-art terminal, restaurants, parking areas, shopping areas and ring road surrounding the airport. With the completion of Kumasi Airport, it will effectively be the second international airport in Ghana. Currently, its traffic stands at 42,000 per month.
3. Takoradi Airport
Takoradi airport has a very rich history dating back to the second world war. It served as a major stop on the US Army Air Forces Air Transport Command on the Trans-Africa Ferry Route. It was where crated aircrafts shipped over the Atlantic were assembled before being flown to operational areas in the northern parts of Africa. Takoradi airport remains for the military. Its IATA airport code is TKD while the ICAO airport code is DGTK. The airport also serves domestic flights from Sekondi-Takoradi, which is the capital of Western Region, southern Ghana.
4. Tamale Airport
The Tamale airport (IATA: TML, ICAO: DGLE) serves Tamale, a town situated in the northern region of the country. It also has a rich history like Takoradi airport. It served as the main advanced operational base for military troops in the height of World War II. However, Tamale airport was recently upgraded to the international status. It has been serving this purpose since the year 2008.
5. Sunyani Airport
This airport serves Sunyani, which is the main town and the capital of Brong Ahafo mid-western Ghana. Sunyani Airport was founded in 1942 when it was used as communication outpost and aerodrome for the Allied Forces although it was abandoned prior to the end of the war. However, in 1969, a need for an airport in Sunyani was seen and therefore the government of the day commissioned a re-construction work for a proper airport facility. This was successfully completed in 1974. Since then, it has been operating as a full-fledged airport in Ghana.
6. Wa Airport
The International Civil Aviation Organization airport code of the Wa Airport is DGLW. However, even though it has been included in this list of the best airports in Ghana, it is more of an airstrip receiving only domestic flights and cannot contain medium-sized cargo and passenger airlines. Wa is the main airstrip that serves the city of Wa in the Upper Western Region of Ghana. This is also the capital of this region.
7. Yendi Airport
The last airport on our list of the 7 best airports in Ghana is the Yendi Airport. It serves the Yendi, the main town, and capital of the Northern Region of Ghana. The International Civil Aviation Organization airport code for Yendi Airport is DGLY.
