ISSER raises concerns over proposed Airport Development Levy for Sunyani and Bolgatanga airports

The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) has raised critical questions about the government’s plan to use the Airport Development Levy to fund the rehabilitation of Sunyani Airport and the construction of a new airport in Bolgatanga.

ISSER warns that the economic rationale for the initiative remains unclear, particularly given Ghana’s constrained fiscal space.

In presenting the 2026 Budget and Economic Policy, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson proposed a new Airport Infrastructure Development Charge (AIDC) to finance airport upgrades. While official rates have not been confirmed, Citi Business News understands that domestic passengers could face an extra GH¢100 per ticket, and international travelers may pay an additional US$50 per trip.

In its post-Budget analysis, ISSER urged a closer examination of Ghana’s transport investment strategy, emphasizing that capital expenditure should deliver maximum economic returns. The institute called for a transparent socio-economic cost–benefit analysis for the Bolgatanga airport project and questioned why the existing Tamale Airport could not serve the region in the short term. ISSER suggested that upgrading the Tamale–Bolgatanga road could deliver broader benefits for communities along the corridor.

Highlighting lessons from the underutilized Ho Airport, ISSER stressed the need for new investments to align with a coherent national transport plan rather than proceeding as isolated projects.

The institute also cautioned about potential tourism implications, noting that the Airport Development Levy could affect both international arrivals and domestic tourism. It called for clearer alignment between the levy, the proposed airport projects, and Ghana’s wider tourism development strategy, advocating for stronger inter-ministerial policy coordination.