President John Dramani Mahama has urged heads of government institutions to take greater responsibility for national development by finding innovative ways to finance projects rather than relying entirely on government allocations.
He said state institutions should explore ways of using their own resources and balance sheets to undertake projects, instead of repeatedly turning to Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson for funding.
Mahama made the remarks at the sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of a Multi-Tiered, Multi-Purpose Car Park and Airport Hotels Complex at the Accra International Airport.
The President praised the Minister of Transport and other stakeholders involved in the project for securing funding through the financial strength of the institutions responsible for the facilities.
“I wish to commend the Minister of Transport and all those associated with this project. This is what we want to see. Develop our country but don’t go to Ato Forson and ask for money,” he said.
Mahama explained that several ongoing projects at the airport were being financed internally by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and the Ghana Airports Company Limited.
“Let me state for the record that all these airport projects, the Ghana Civil Aviation’s new control tower, the refurbishment of Terminal 2, the transfer concourse between Terminal 2 and 3, and currently the airport’s parking lots, entertainment and hotel space, are being funded entirely on the balance sheets of the Ghana Civil Aviation Limited, that’s for the control tower, and for all these other projects on the balance sheet of the Ghana Airport Company Limited,” he said.
According to the President, neither institution had received direct government funding for the projects.
“The government of Ghana has not given any of the two institutions one single cedi for these projects,” he added.
Mahama said the approach demonstrated how government agencies could contribute to national development while reducing pressure on the national budget.
The Multi-Tiered, Multi-Purpose Car Park and Airport Hotels Complex is expected to feature two hotels and a pedestrian connector linking the development to the airport terminal.
The project will also provide more than 2,000 parking spaces and include a shopping mall with a food court, retail outlets and office spaces.
Other planned facilities include a sky lounge and sky observatory, which will offer visitors views of aircraft operations at the airport.
The President’s comments form part of his broader call for state institutions to become more innovative and financially sustainable in the delivery of development projects.
