Cape Coast, Ghana: Airport Accessibility And Tourism Prospects

Cape Coast, a city in Ghana, currently does not have its own airport. The closest major airport to Cape Coast is Takoradi Airport, located 79km away from the city centre. However, in 2024, plans for the construction of an airport in Cape Coast were announced by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) with funding from South Korean investors. The airport project was proposed to boost the region's tourism potential, but it has faced delays and criticism from opposition parties. Cape Coast, a historically significant settlement in Ghana, is known for its educational institutions and tourist attractions, making it a popular destination.

Nearest airport to Cape Coast, Ghana

Cape Coast, Ghana, is a town in the centre of the country's seaboard, southwest of the capital, Accra. It is one of the oldest towns in Ghana and grew up around Cape Coast Castle, built by the Swedish in 1655 and taken over by the British in 1663.

The closest airport to Cape Coast is Takoradi Airport (TKD/DGTK). This airport is 39.2 miles (or 63 kilometres) from Cape Coast. It is followed by Kotoka International Airport (82 miles/132 kilometres away), Kumasi Airport (113.8 miles/183.1 kilometres away), and Sunyani Airport (172.9 miles/278.3 kilometres away).

If you are looking for an international airport, the closest major airport to Cape Coast is Kotoka International Airport (ACC/DGAA) in Accra, which is 79-82 kilometres from Cape Coast. Lomé-Tokoin Airport in Togo is 352 kilometres away, and Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, is 377 kilometres away.

Takoradi Airport

During World War II, the airport was a major refueling stop between Robertsfield Airport in Liberia and Apapa Airport in Nigeria. It was used as a Royal Air Force station, where aircraft shipped over the Atlantic were assembled before being flown to operational areas in North Africa. A number of South African Air Force airmen who were based at the airport during the war are buried in the Takoradi European Public Cemetery, which adjoins the airport.

Scheduled air services from Takoradi Airport are provided by Africa World Airlines. The airport also serves as the primary shore base for helicopter transfers to offshore oil platforms in Ghana's Jubilee Oil Field. The Ghana Air Force's 1 Squadron, operating Harbin Z-9H, and the Flight Training School (FTS), operating Diamond DA-42, are based out of the Takoradi Air Base.

Domestic airports near Cape Coast

Cape Coast is a town in the centre of Ghana's seaboard, southwest of the country's capital, Accra. It is one of the oldest towns in Ghana, having grown around Cape Coast Castle, which was built by the Swedish in 1655 and taken over by the British in 1663.

The closest airport to Cape Coast is Takoradi Airport (TKD / DGTK), which is located 39.2 miles (63 kilometres) or 79 kilometres from the town. This airport is in Takoradi, Ghana, and is the closest major airport to Cape Coast.

There are several other domestic airports near Cape Coast, including:

• Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra, Ghana, which is 82 miles (132 kilometres) or 156 kilometres from Cape Coast.
• Kumasi Airport (KMS) in Kumasi, Ghana, which is 113.8 miles (183.1 kilometres) or 233 kilometres from Cape Coast.
• Sunyani Airport (NYI) in Sunyani, Ghana, which is 172.9 miles (278.3 kilometres) or 414 kilometres from Cape Coast.

International airports near Cape Coast

Cape Coast, Ghana, does not have its own airport. The closest airport to Cape Coast is Takoradi Airport (TKD), which is located 39.2 miles (63.0 kilometres) from the city. This airport is in Takoradi, Ghana, and is 79 kilometres from the centre of Cape Coast.

There are several other international airports near Cape Coast, including:

• Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra, Ghana, which is 82 miles (132 kilometres) from Cape Coast.
• Lomé–Tokoin International Airport (LFW) in Lome, Togo, which is 352 kilometres from Cape Coast.
• Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport (ABJ) in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, which is 377 kilometres from Cape Coast.

These airports offer a range of international and domestic flights, with Kotoka International Airport serving as a major hub for the region, with 31 airlines operating out of it and offering nonstop flights to 25 cities.

Plans for an airport in Cape Coast

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate Mahamudu Bawumia has announced funding for a new airport in Cape Coast, Ghana, as part of his commitment to enhancing the country's infrastructure with a focus on aviation. The funding for the airport has been secured through a $2 billion facility from the South Korean government.

The airport is expected to boost tourism and trade in the Central Region by improving connectivity and reducing travel time for domestic and international visitors. Bawumia emphasised the airport's significance given Cape Coast's historical and cultural importance as a major tourist destination.

The closest major airport to Cape Coast is currently Takoradi Airport, located 79km from the town centre. Cape Coast is 81 miles from Kotoka International Airport in Accra, the capital of Ghana.

Bawumia confirmed that the Cape Coast Airport has been a priority for the NPP and that with the funding from the Korean facility, they are ready to break ground and begin construction. He assured that the airport will be constructed to the highest quality and efficiency standards, meeting future air travel demands in Ghana.

The project is expected to generate numerous jobs during both the construction and operational phases, significantly boosting the local economy.

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