The estimated cost of a proposed mini airport being developed at Damang by Ibrahim Mahama, sole shareholder of Damang Gold Mine Limited and Group Chairman of Dzata Holdings, has risen to at least US$80 million, with the final bill expected to go even higher.

The project, initially conceived as an airstrip, is being expanded into a mini airport, with the investment covering land preparation, runway development and the supporting infrastructure and equipment required to make the facility operational.

The projected US$80 million investment is significant in the context of major airport infrastructure development in Ghana. The construction cost of Terminal 3 at Kotoka International Airport in Accra was approximately US$278 million, although the two projects differ in scope and cannot be directly compared.

Damang Gold Mine Limited’s Community Relations Manager, Ramy Oboro, disclosed the estimated cost, explaining that the amount covered both phases of the project.

“It is anticipated that when we are done with the airport, it is going to cost us not less than 80 million dollars, both Phase One and Phase Two,” he said.

He indicated that the final cost could exceed the current estimate because of the scale of the works and the infrastructure required to complete the facility.

“I think it will even go beyond that,” Mr Oboro added.

The Damang project is expected to provide a two-kilometre runway, alongside the facilities and systems required to support its operations.

2-phase development

The construction programme has been divided into two phases, with the first focusing on preparing and levelling the land allocated for the facility.

The land preparation exercise is ongoing but has taken longer than anticipated because of heavy rocks scattered across the site, making the work more difficult.

Phase Two will involve the construction of additional facilities and the installation of the equipment and electrical systems required for the airstrip’s operation.

These will include a pole to receive signals and other electrical equipment needed to support the facility.

The investment therefore extends beyond the runway itself to the supporting infrastructure necessary to bring the proposed mini airport into service.

The project’s final cost will depend partly on the extent of the work required to prepare the site and install the necessary systems and facilities.

Farmers to be compensated

Farmers whose lands are close to the proposed airport are expected to receive compensation to enable them to relocate for safety reasons.

The relocation arrangements are intended to address safety concerns associated with the operation of the facility and activities around the airport area.

The scale of the compensation and the number of farmers affected were not disclosed.

Damang’s changing landscape

The proposed mini airport is among the developments expected to transform the landscape of Damang, a mining community in the Western Region.

The Chief of Damang has compared the area’s landscape to that of Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom, reflecting the scale of the transformation envisaged for the community.

The project is being developed under the broader interests of Ibrahim Mahama, who is also associated with Dzata Holdings, the parent group of Damang Gold Mine Limited.

Damang Mine was formerly operated by Gold Fields Ghana Limited before the concession was awarded to Engineers and Planners through a competitive tender process supervised by the Minerals Commission.

The mine was officially handed over to the new operator on April 18, 2026.

The proposed airport is distinct from the mine’s mining operations, although both developments are associated with the wider investment interests of Mr Mahama.