President John Dramani Mahama has commissioned the Sentuo Airport Garden City project, a $1.3 billion private sector investment expected to further transform Accra’s Airport City enclave into a major business, hospitality and lifestyle destination.
The project, being developed by the Sentuo Group, is expected to comprise approximately 582 premium apartments, a 600-room hotel, a conference facility with a capacity of 2,500 people, healthcare facilities, a modern shopping mall, landscaped gardens and other commercial and leisure amenities.
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony for the project, President Mahama said the development represented the kind of private sector investment needed to complement government’s efforts to accelerate national development.
He said government could not, and should not, undertake every investment required for the country’s development alone.
“Our responsibility is to provide a stable enabling environment in which businesses can invest, expand and succeed while ensuring that the resulting opportunities and benefits reach our people,” he said.
President Mahama stressed the need for the project to generate meaningful opportunities for Ghanaian businesses and workers, particularly during its construction and subsequent operations.
He said Ghanaian engineers, architects, artisans, technicians, suppliers and other local businesses should be given fair opportunities to participate in the project.
The President also called for apprenticeships, practical training and deliberate skills transfer to ensure that young Ghanaians acquired skills that would benefit them beyond the construction phase.
He urged the developers to view local content not simply as a regulatory requirement but as a key measure of the project’s success.
“Where Ghanaian firms and workers have the required competence, they must be given a fair opportunity to contribute and to grow alongside this investment,” President Mahama said.
He noted that the hotel, conference centre, residential apartments, retail outlets, healthcare facilities and leisure amenities would create sustained demand for goods and services, supporting jobs and businesses long after construction was completed.
Boost for tourism and conferences
President Mahama said the tourism and hospitality components of the project were particularly important as Accra continues to attract business travellers, tourists and participants in major international conferences.
He recalled occasions when Accra had been bypassed as a destination for major international conferences because the city lacked sufficient conference facilities.
According to him, the new development would help address that challenge by providing additional hotel rooms and conference facilities capable of hosting major international events.
“We will have enough conference facilities to be able to host even a UN conference here in Accra,” he said.
He added that Ghana’s ambition should go beyond Accra by encouraging visitors to stay longer and travel to other parts of the country.
This, he explained, would spread the benefits of tourism to transport operators, hospitality businesses, artisans, farmers, workers and communities across Ghana.
Rising investor confidence
President Mahama also pointed to what he described as a significant increase in foreign direct investment into Ghana, attributing the development to an improved business environment and prudent financial management.
He said FDI inflows had risen from $640 million in 2024 to $2.5 billion in 2025.
The President noted that the figure did not include machinery, plant and equipment and could therefore be significantly higher if those investments were factored into the calculation.
He assured investors of government’s continued commitment to creating an environment conducive to long-term investments.
“Government is ready to work with investors who make long-term commitments to Ghana,” he said.
He, however, urged investors to comply fully with Ghana’s laws, uphold high standards and create genuine opportunities for Ghanaian businesses and workers.
Road network to be reviewed
President Mahama acknowledged that the rapid development of the Airport City area would bring additional pressure on the existing road network and could worsen traffic congestion.
He announced that the Ministry of Roads and Highways, together with the Department of Urban Roads, had started reviewing the road network within the Airport enclave and the central business district.
He said government was considering measures including road widening, the introduction of one-way systems and other improvements to cope with increased traffic.
President Mahama also urged developers and relevant public institutions to pay attention to drainage, safety, accessibility, environmental sustainability and pressure on public services as the area develops.
He charged regulatory institutions to work closely with the developers to resolve legitimate bottlenecks promptly while protecting the public interest.
The President commended Sentuo Group Executive Chairman, Mr. Shu Nkwang, and the company’s management for their continued confidence in Ghana.
He noted that Mr. Shu had made Ghana his home and had demonstrated a long-term commitment to investing in the country.
President Mahama said the Airport Garden City project was part of a broader expansion of Sentuo Group’s investments in Ghana, including the group’s refinery operations and plans for a fertilizer production plant.
He expressed confidence that the project would be successfully completed and deliver its promised economic benefits.
“I look forward to meeting Ghanaian businesses that have grown because of this project, young people who have acquired useful skills, and workers whose livelihoods have improved because of this investment,” he said.
The President subsequently performed the ceremonial sod-cutting to formally mark the commencement of the Sentuo Airport Garden City project.
