President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to construct a new Sunyani Airport runway aimed at accommodating larger aircraft and improving air travel access to the Bono Region.
The project, unveiled during the Resetting Ghana Tour in Sunyani on March 19, 2026, is expected to enhance connectivity and support economic growth in the region.
Existing runway deemed inadequate
President Mahama highlighted the limitations of the current airport infrastructure, noting that the existing runway is too short to support jet operations.
“The runway is only about 1.5 kilometres. Because of that, planes that can land in Kumasi cannot come here,” he explained, underscoring the need for urgent expansion.
The current constraints have limited the airport’s operational capacity and reduced its ability to attract commercial flights.
According to the President, government has opted to construct an entirely new runway instead of expanding the existing one due to surrounding developments.
“That requires that we expand the runway, but because of the buildings in the area, we may not be able to work on it. So, we decided to build a new runway for the airport.” - President John Dramani Mahama
He revealed that the proposed runway will measure approximately 2.4 kilometres, making it capable of handling larger aircraft.
Land secured and plans ready
President Mahama disclosed that traditional authorities have already released land for the project, clearing a major hurdle for implementation.
“The chiefs have already given out lands for that. The design exists, and the new runway will be about 2.4 kilometres to be able to land any plane of any size.” - President John Dramani Mahama
The President indicated that government will return at a later date to officially cut sod for the project, marking the start of construction.
The new runway is expected to significantly improve air transport in the region, positioning Sunyani as a key hub for domestic aviation and regional development.
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