ACCRA, Ghana, 15th September: President John Dramani Mahama has challenged the developers of the $1.3 billion Sentuo Airport Garden City Project to deliver the development to the highest standards and ensure that it provides the promised economic benefits to Ghanaians.
President Mahama said the most important moment would not be the ceremonial revealing but the day the project is completed, fully operational and delivering its intended benefits.
Speaking at the revealing ceremony in Accra, he said he looked forward to returning to the project site after its completion.
“Today marks the beginning of an important phase in this project’s life. The most significant occasion will be the day we return when it has been completed, fully operational, and delivering the promised benefits,” he stated.
The President said he expected to see the apartments occupied, the hotel welcoming guests and the conference facility hosting major events.
He also expected the healthcare, retail and leisure facilities to be serving the purposes for which they were developed.
Beyond the physical structures, President Mahama said he wants the project to produce measurable improvements in the lives of Ghanaians.
“More importantly, I look forward to meeting Ghanaian businesses that have grown because of this project, young people who have acquired useful skills, and workers whose livelihoods have improved because of this investment,” he said.
The project, valued at approximately $1.3 billion, is expected to comprise 582 premium apartments, a 600-room hotel, a 2,500-capacity conference facility, healthcare facilities, a modern shopping mall, landscaped gardens and other commercial and leisure amenities.
President Mahama urged the developers, consultants, contractors and other stakeholders to proceed diligently and uphold the required standards.
He called for the project to be completed in a timely manner while ensuring that all relevant laws and regulations are followed.
The President also charged public institutions and regulatory authorities to work closely with the developers.
He said legitimate bottlenecks should be resolved promptly without compromising the public interest.
President Mahama stressed that the development should provide opportunities for Ghanaian engineers, architects, artisans, technicians, suppliers and other local businesses.
He also called for apprenticeships, practical training and deliberate skills transfer for young people.
The President said local content should be treated as a central measure of the project’s success rather than merely a regulatory obligation.
He commended Sentuo Group Executive Chairman, Mr Shu Ningquan, and the management of the group for their confidence in Ghana.
President Mahama noted that the Airport Garden City Project is the second major Sentuo project for which he had participated in a groundbreaking ceremony during the year, following the second phase of the Sentuo Refinery.
He also disclosed plans by Mr Shu to establish a fertiliser production plant in Ghana.
President Mahama subsequently performed the ceremonial sod-cutting and wished Sentuo Group and all its partners success in implementing the project.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent