A private citizen, Samson Asaki Awingobit, has petitioned President John Mahama to conduct a comprehensive national-security assessment of the Sentuo Airport Garden City Project in Accra. The project, developed by Sentuo Group, is located at 10 Giffard Road in the Airport Residential Area. Awingobit raised concerns about the project's proximity to military, defence, and aviation installations.
The Sentuo Airport Garden City Project, which had its sod-cutting ceremony on September 15, 2026, is a $1.3 billion development that will feature 582 premium apartments, a 600-room hotel, and a 2,500-capacity conference facility. The project will also include healthcare facilities, a shopping mall, landscaped gardens, and other commercial and leisure facilities.
Awingobit is seeking a multi-agency assessment involving institutions such as the Ministry of Defence, Ghana Armed Forces, National Security, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, and Ghana Airports Company Limited. This assessment will examine the project's proposed height, density, orientation, technological infrastructure, and operational arrangements for potential security concerns.
The petition also calls for scrutiny of the project's surveillance and security systems, including CCTV infrastructure, cybersecurity arrangements, access controls, data storage, and the vetting of security personnel. Awingobit is also seeking enhanced checks on beneficial ownership, sources of funds, and future occupants and tenants of the development.
Awingobit stresses that the petition is not opposed to Chinese investment or foreign direct investment in Ghana but is focused on the location of the development and its potential long-term security implications. He urges the government to undertake the assessment before the project reaches a stage where changes to its design or location could become difficult or costly.
The petitioner has proposed that any necessary changes to the project's design, height, or restricted areas should be considered if the security assessment identifies potential risks. The government has not yet commented on the petition or indicated whether it will conduct the proposed security assessment.
Awingobit's petition highlights the need for a balance between economic development and national security. The outcome of the petition and the government's response will be closely watched by stakeholders, including investors, residents, and security experts.
Key points
- The petitioner, Samson Asaki Awingobit, is calling for a comprehensive national-security assessment of the Sentuo Airport Garden City Project due to its proximity to strategic installations.
- The project, valued at $1.3 billion, will feature a mix of residential, commercial, and leisure facilities, including 582 premium apartments and a 600-room hotel.
- Awingobit is seeking a multi-agency assessment involving various security and defence institutions to examine the project's potential security implications.
