Accra Airport VIP Lounge to be completed without taxpayer funds

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says the ultramodern VIP Lounge being constructed at the Accra International Airport is expected to be completed and handed over before the end of 2026, with no taxpayer money being used to finance the project.

Mr Ablakwa made the disclosure after inspecting the ongoing construction on Friday, September 4, saying he was impressed by both the progress and quality of work.

In a social media post on Sunday, September 6, the Minister said the project was advancing well and remained on schedule for completion this year.

According to him, the facility is being financed entirely through corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions from Ghanaian businesses rather than government funds.

He explained that the participating companies do not channel their contributions through the government. Instead, they pay local contractors directly to undertake different components of the project.

“We are fully delivering this project without touching taxpayer funds,” Mr Ablakwa stated.

He said the arrangement demonstrates how collaboration between the private sector and government institutions can help deliver major infrastructure without adding pressure to the public purse.

The Estate Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he explained, is responsible for supervising the project and ensuring that construction meets the required standards.

“The Foreign Ministry’s Estate Bureau only supervises to ensure standards are met,” he said.

Mr Ablakwa described the project as an example of what can be achieved through private-sector partnerships without relying on public procurement or taxpayer funding.

“This project is a great symbol of what can be achieved without public funds and public procurement,” he added.

When completed, the VIP Lounge is expected to provide a modern facility for receiving and accommodating dignitaries and other high-profile passengers travelling through the Accra International Airport.