President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government will build an airstrip of about two kilometres in every region of Ghana that does not already have an airport, with the Western North Region named as one of the beneficiaries.
The President made the pledge during a courtesy call by a delegation of chiefs from the Western North Region at the Jubilee House. “We are going to provide an airstrip in every region that does not already have an airport,” he said.
According to the President, the landing strips are meant mainly to support emergency air travel and urgent medical evacuations for communities where aircraft currently cannot land.
The plan was widely reported on Sunday, October 18, 2026, by Citi Newsroom, MyJoyOnline and Pulse Ghana.
Mahama airstrip plan: what was announced
Each new airstrip will be about two kilometres long and will come with a small control office to manage flights.
The President made clear that the facilities are for regions without any airport. “Regions that already have airports are covered, but those without airports will receive landing strips,” he said.
Western North, which has no operational commercial airport, was the only region specifically named as a beneficiary.
Airstrips for emergency travel and medical evacuations
The stated purpose of the airstrips is emergency access rather than regular commercial flights.
Landing strips would allow small aircraft to reach areas quickly during urgent situations, including moving critically ill patients to better-equipped hospitals.
For regions far from existing airports, such access could cut hours of road travel in emergencies.
Airstrip plan at a glance
- Who announced it: President John Dramani Mahama
- Where: Courtesy call by Western North chiefs at the Jubilee House
- Coverage: Every region without an existing airport
- Length of each airstrip: About 2 kilometres
- Extra facility: A small control office at each site
- Main purpose: Emergency air travel and medical evacuations
- Named beneficiary: Western North Region
- Cost, funding and timeline: Not yet announced
Other projects promised for Western North Region
The airstrip was one of several development commitments the President outlined to the Western North chiefs, according to GBC.
He said construction of the Western North Regional Hospital will begin once the project site is handed over to the contractor. Road improvements are planned under the Big Push and feeder roads programmes, and the region is also set to receive a stadium.
On agriculture, the President spoke of plans for 100,000 hectares of oil palm plantations and expanded rubber production, with Western North a target region for more rubber cultivation.
He also tied the region’s development to the government’s five-year, US$10 billion New Economy Policy, which aims to create jobs in nine strategic sectors. GhanaTrends earlier reported on the President’s US$2bn-a-year pledge to industry at the Afienya Industrial Park sod-cutting.
What the airstrips mean for residents of regions without airports
For residents, the biggest potential gain is faster emergency medical care, as patients could be flown out instead of making long road journeys.
Airstrips could also make it easier for officials, investors and emergency responders to reach the regions.
However, the benefits will depend on when the airstrips are built and whether aircraft and operators are available to use them.
What happens next
The President did not give a cost, funding source, construction timeline or the exact number of airstrips to be built.
Ghanaians will be watching for details from the Presidency, the Ministry of Transport and aviation agencies on site selection and when work will start.
The President also asked the chiefs to help fight illegal mining, protect forests and water bodies and improve sanitation in their areas.
Key details at a glance
- President Mahama has promised an airstrip in every region without an airport.
- Each airstrip will be about 2km long with a small control office.
- The airstrips are mainly for emergency travel and medical evacuations.
- Western North Region is one of the beneficiaries.
- Regions that already have airports will not get new airstrips.
- No cost or timeline has been announced yet.
FAQs
Which regions in Ghana will get new airstrips?
President Mahama said every region that does not already have an airport will get an airstrip. Western North is the only region named so far.
How long will the new airstrips in Ghana be?
Each airstrip will be about two kilometres long and will have a small control office.
When will construction of the airstrips start?
No start date, cost or funding plan has been announced yet. The President only outlined the plan during a meeting with Western North chiefs.
President Mahama’s pledge to build a two-kilometre airstrip in every region without an airport is aimed at improving emergency access and medical evacuations, starting with regions such as Western North. Details on cost, funding and timelines are still to come.
