Sentuo Airport Garden City project will enable Accra to host UN conferences – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama addressed the ceremonial sod-cutting of the Sentuo Airport Garden City Project, emphasizing its potential to position Accra as a host for major international conferences, including those organized by the United Nations. Accra has previously missed out on hosting significant international events due to a lack of adequate hotel accommodations and conference facilities.

Speaking at the event, Mahama highlighted that the Sentuo Airport Garden City Project would address the infrastructure gap and enhance Accra's capacity to attract major international gatherings. He stated that the new development would provide sufficient hotel rooms and conference facilities, enabling Accra to host events such as a UN conference.

The project is part of broader transformation efforts within and around the airport enclave, with government and private-sector investments aimed at improving the area's infrastructure and commercial appeal. Mahama noted that Accra is increasingly attracting business travelers, tourists, and participants in major international conferences, making it crucial to expand the city's hospitality and conference facilities.

He recalled instances where Accra had been passed over as a host city for international events due to insufficient conference facilities, citing Dakar, Senegal, as a city that benefited from an event that could have been held in Accra. The president expressed disappointment at the missed opportunities for Ghana's capital and emphasized the need to build the capacity to host large-scale international events.

Mahama urged Ghana to create an environment that encourages business travelers and tourists to stay longer and explore other parts of the country, highlighting that visitors' travel beyond the capital would benefit various sectors, including transport, hospitality, agriculture, and community development. The Sentuo Airport Garden City Project, he explained, would contribute to this vision with its planned hotel, conference facilities, residential apartments, healthcare services, and leisure amenities, creating opportunities for businesses and workers in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

The president expressed hope that the project would strengthen Accra's position as a competitive destination for international business, tourism, and conferences.