Parliament approves 58.9 million euro contract to develop Kumasi Airport

Parliament on Thursday approved an EPC/Turnkey contract of 58.9 million Euros between the Government of Ghana and Contracta Construction UK Limited for the execution of the development of phase three of the Kumasi Airport.

The scope of works for the development of the Kumasi International Airport Phase III are the development of a 2,5522 m2 terminal building extension, new fire station, new fire access road and new air control tower.

Others are the development of a 9,000 m2 car park extension, 4,200m2 access road extension and two new boarding bridges.

The scope of works on the airside include a 7,731 m2 apron extension, a 202,805 m2 runway strip an airside service road.

Under the contract, Deutsche Bank AG London Branch is providing the financing under an export credit arrangement; while the UK Export Finance (UKEF) is providing the export credit guarantee to enable Deutsche Bank AG London Branch to lend under this arrangement.

The financial package provides a 100 % financial solution, a Committee on Roads and Transport report, read by Mr Samuel Ayeh-Paye, the Committee’s Chairman said.

The objective of the project, according to the report, is to position Kumasi, the largest commercial centre in the central belt of Ghana to complement the multi-modal transport system, comprising rail, road and aviation link to support the development of the, Kumasi to facilitate the movement of goods and people to the middle and northern belts of the country and into the sub-region, particularly the Sahelian countries.

Apart from the project leading to the development of Kumasi into a strategic commercial airport to link the sub-region, and facilitate the movement of people and goods, it would attract more investment, create more jobs and catalyse economic growth.

The airport development would boost the agricultural sector and leverage the export of fresh produce, facilitate growth in domestic air travel, and give a boost to the tourism sector.

The Committee, the report said was satisfied with the Phase III would run concurrently with the yet to be completed Phase II.

This is because the Committee, after a review and technical investigation by the contractor and the various stakeholders, concluded that the two phases running concurrently will reduce the project budget of Phase III by 4.3 million euros, as well as an extended runway for the Kumasi Airport.

The Committee recommended that the contractor and all stakeholders involved work around the clock to ensure that the project is completed within the project duration of 30 months.

KNUST students build robot that repels mosquitoes

The Ladies

Each year, countries around the world – Africa, specifically, spend huge sums of money on mosquito control programmes and mosquito bite treatment.

Amid several interventions meant to eliminate the deadly insect, there are concerns about the chemicals’ toxins that are released into the environment. 

There are even suggestions totally getting rid of mosquitoes will create imbalance in nature.

So what allows them to live and come into our space but disable them from biting?

Well, Biomedical Engineering students of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology have a built a robotic mosquito repellent.

Second-year students, Joana Owusu-Appiah, Selinam Fiadjo and Daniella Asare call the robot ‘Anquito’, coined from ‘anti’ and ‘mosquito’.

“We realize there are so many measures to kill mosquitoes but we thought to ourselves, is it a problem of mosquitoes living or the fact that they’re in our space?

“Somebody is his room with mosquito coil and net but when there is light out, he goes out for fresh air and gets bitten.”

“What can we do for people who are outside their rooms and getting fresh air” they thought.



The robot, built with computer programming, emits ultrasonic sounds.

Ultrasound is not different from "normal" sound in its physical properties, except that humans cannot hear it.

This limit varies from person to person and is approximately 20 kilohertz in healthy young adults.

Ultrasound is used in many different fields, including detecting objects and measuring distance. 

Its imaging are often used in medicine.

Animals such as bats use ultrasound for locating prey and obstacles.

‘Anquito’ emits 38 kilohetz which is thought to ward off mosquitoes.

It is equipped with sensors which stop and change direction after encountering an obstacle.

The students are working to create miniature of the machine and employ artificial intelligence to make it smarter.

Forty-One (41) Presidential staffers have been removed from the seat of government following a hue and cry by Ghanaians when President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo released his first list of personnel working with him in 2017.

From 998 the figure has been downsized to 957 indicating that 41 persons are no longer working at the seat of government as at December 2018.

The latest list comprises 10 Ministers of State at the Presidency, 28 presidential staffers and 254 other junior political appointees, bringing the total number of political appointees to 292. In all, 665 Civil and Public Sector employees work at the Jubilee House.

The release of the list is in compliance with Section 11 of the Presidential Office Act, 1993 (Act 463), which requires the President to submit annually to Parliament, a report on the staffing position of the Office of the President.

In 2017, the breakdown was given as nine ministers of state, 27 presidential staffers, 256 other/junior appointees and 706 employees of public/civil service staff.

Inter sign Edmund Hottor

Edmund Hottor

Italian giants International Milan grabbed the signature of Ghanaian midfielder Edmund Hottor on transfer deadline day but had to quickly send him out on loan.

Hottor, 21, signed a five-year deal with Roberto Mancini's men before travelling to Portugal to join Atletico Club where he will spend the rest of the season.

According to reports in the Italian media, the Ghanaian will be monitored with an eagle eye and if shows signs of improvement he will be brought back to compete for a position in the Inter Milan set-up.

Hottor has played for Virtus Lanciano, Nocerina and Veneziz all on loan.