From luxury hotels and corporate headquarters to diplomatic missions and high-end residences, the area around Accra’s airport has become a powerful new centre of commerce. Its development reflects Ghana’s growing ambitions en route for the international stage. But it poses a challenge of how many players that can afford to participate in the prosperity taking shape around the runway, because it appears as if it may be creating a gated economic future for the few.
A few kilometres from the runway of Accra International Airport, a second capital is quietly is taking shape. It is not Ghana’s political capital – Jubilee House, the seat of government, which is still the centre of formal political power. This sub-capital is around the airport, where a different kind of influence is being concentrated. A developmental-influence of corporate headquarters, diplomatic missions, international hotels, luxury residences, financial institutions, a new modern empire of business networks where deals are made, capital moves, wealth/power are being distributed, etc.
The transformation of the airport corridor is difficult to miss. The Accra Marriott Hotel, Marina Mall, Holiday Inn, Ibis Styles, airline offices, diplomatic missions and major corporate establishments have established a dense commercial presence around the airport corridor that was once conceived primarily as a security zone around the airport. Asides these expansion, beautiful cityscape like Airport Residential, Cantonments, Roman Ridge and Airport West, have evolved into some of the capital’s most sought-after addresses. Collectively, these developments have created an urban district that is evermore distinct from Accra’s older commercial core areas.
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