Renowned Ghanaian businessman Awentami Paul Afoko has called for the construction of an international airport in the Upper East Region, saying the project is essential to unlocking the area’s agricultural, trade and export potential.

Speaking at the Regional Development Framework validation forum in Bolgatanga, Mr Afoko said the region has enormous economic opportunities that can be realised through strategic investments in agriculture, infrastructure and commerce.

He stressed that while governments create enabling environments, it is entrepreneurs who drive business growth and economic development.

“As an entrepreneur, I have learnt that governments do not create businesses; entrepreneurs do. Government’s responsibility is to create the environment within which businesses can thrive,” he said.

Mr Afoko identified irrigation development and commercial agriculture as critical to transforming the region’s economy, urging greater investment in year-round cultivation of vegetables, fruits and flowers for export.

According to him, the key challenge is not finding markets for agricultural produce but ensuring consistent production throughout the year.

“The challenge is not finding buyers. The challenge is producing at sufficient scale throughout the year,” he stated.

He also called for investments in warehouses, cold-chain facilities, packaging centres and standardised production systems to improve the competitiveness of products such as shea butter, baskets and textiles in international markets.

“We must organise ourselves to produce standardised products and invest in warehouses, cold chains and packaging so that we become year-round suppliers,” he said.

Mr Afoko argued that an international airport would significantly enhance the region’s export capacity by enabling fresh produce to reach overseas markets quickly.

“We need an airport urgently so that flowers from the Upper East can reach Europe before Kenyan flowers do. Burkina Faso produces strawberries, and we can do the same,” he remarked.

He further noted that the Upper East Region’s proximity to neighbouring countries provides a unique opportunity to strengthen cross-border trade and regional economic integration.

“There is the need for an international airport in the region to enable us to seize export opportunities. Our strategic location also presents enormous opportunities to strengthen border trade,” he added.

Mr Afoko called on the government, development partners and the diplomatic community to collaborate in positioning the Upper East Region as a leading agricultural production and export hub in West Africa.