Leadership of PAYOM addressing the press
The Paga Youth Movement (PAYOM) is calling on the Government of Ghana and the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) to give fair and transparent consideration to the upgrading of the historic Paga/Navrongo Airstrip as the site for the proposed Upper East Regional Airport.
In a press release and a petition addressed to the Minister for Transport, PAYOM expressed appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama for his recent directive to the GACL to explore private investment options for the development of a regional airport through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
However, they raised concerns about what they describe as a “one-sided” approach to the airport’s location—favoring a new site at Anateem over the already existing airstrip in Paga/Navrongo.
Concerns over lack of due process
The group argues that key decision-makers, including the Chief Executive Officer of the GACL and the newly appointed Upper East Regional Minister, have failed to conduct stakeholder consultations or technical assessments at the Paga/Navrongo site. PAYOM contends that this oversight has created the perception that the government has prematurely endorsed the Anateem site without a transparent process.
“While we support the establishment of an airport anywhere in the Upper East Region, we believe it must be guided by sound technical, economic, and strategic reasoning,” said Desmond Ayambire Abire, Public Relations Officer of PAYOM. “It cannot be reduced to political convenience or name association.”
The case for Paga/Navrongo
Originally built by the colonial administration between 1939 and 1940 for military use, the Paga/Navrongo Airstrip has served Ghana for over 80 years.
Previous feasibility studies, including one under former Aviation Minister the late Joseph Kofi Adda, have reportedly affirmed the viability of upgrading the airstrip into a domestic or regional airport.
PAYOM argues that the Paga/Navrongo location holds several strategic advantages that make it ideal for the proposed regional airport. Its proximity to the Burkina Faso border positions it as a natural hub for cross-border trade with Sahelian countries such as Mali and Niger, boosting economic integration and regional commerce.
The area is also rich in tourism potential, home to historic and cultural attractions like the Pikworo Slave Camp and the sacred Crocodile Ponds, which continue to draw international visitors. From a national security standpoint, the airstrip’s location offers a strategic advantage, enhancing Ghana’s border security and enabling quicker emergency responses in times of regional unrest.
Moreover, the project has strong local backing; in 2020, all ten paramount chiefs of the Kassena-Nankana area formally appealed to then-President Nana Akufo-Addo to upgrade the airstrip, demonstrating widespread community support.
Petition questions government’s motives
In a formal petition to the Transport Minister, residents and stakeholders questioned why a new airport is being considered at Anateem—approximately 15km from Bolgatanga and 30km from Paga—without public explanation or comparative studies.
The petition raised several critical concerns. Chief among them was whether the government had officially abandoned earlier plans to upgrade the Paga/Navrongo Airstrip. Petitioners also questioned whether any geotechnical and socio-economic assessments were conducted at the Anateem site to justify its selection.
They further challenged the notion that major regional development projects must be confined to regional capitals, arguing that such an approach could marginalize other deserving areas. Finally, they expressed disappointment over the apparent lack of consultation with the Kassena-Nankana community, whose support and input are vital for the success of any project in the area.
The petitioners urged the Ministry of Transport to release comparative data on the costs, benefits, and feasibility of both locations, emphasizing that the public has a right to transparency in such significant infrastructure decisions.
Call for action
The Paga Youth Movement is appealing to the GACL and potential investors to conduct a fresh technical and economic assessment of the Paga/Navrongo Airstrip. They argue that upgrading the existing airstrip would be more cost-effective and faster to execute than starting afresh at a new site.
“We are not opposing development in Anateem or anywhere else,” the statement clarified. “We are only insisting on a fair, inclusive, and data-driven process that ensures the best outcome for the region and the country.”
The group pledged its readiness to support a government or investor visit to the Paga/Navrongo Airstrip to facilitate an objective assessment.