Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced that the VIP lounge at Accra International Airport will be completed and handed over before the end of 2024, with no taxpayer money involved. He made the statement after inspecting the ongoing works on Friday, September 4, and expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of the project.
In a social media post dated Sunday, September 6, the minister said, "On Friday, I inspected ongoing works at our ultramodern VIP Lounge project at the Accra International Airport. I am really impressed with the progress and quality of execution. The project will be completed and handed over this year."
Mr Ablakwa explained that the entire project is financed through corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions from local Ghanaian businesses. Rather than routing funds through the government, the businesses release money directly to local contractors of their choice who are carrying out various aspects of the construction.
He added, "We are fully delivering this project without touching taxpayer funds. The entire project is modelled as a corporate social responsibility funded by local Ghanaian businesses who release funds directly to the local contractors of their choice working on the VIP Lounge."
The Estate Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is acting as a supervisory body to ensure that the required standards are met. "The Foreign Ministry’s Estate Bureau only supervises to ensure standards are met," the minister said.
Mr Ablakwa highlighted the project as a model for how infrastructure can be delivered through private‑sector partnerships without increasing the public purse. "This project is a great symbol of what can be achieved without public funds and public procurement," he added.
Once finished, the VIP lounge will provide an upgraded facility for the reception and handling of dignitaries and other high‑profile guests using Accra International Airport.
