[6] Approval to start an airport in Kumasi by the then British government was obtained in 1940, even though the land acquisition documentation was completed and paid for in 1947.

In 1958 and 1959, the Government of Ghana made extensive developments on the runway, navigational facilities,and human resources to ensure the enhancement of internal airline operations.

[11] In 2008, renovation works were done by Bans Consult Limited at the airport, including the rehabilitation of the arrival and departure halls, the control room, the rescue and fire station, and the construction of a VIP Lounge ahead of the African Cup of Nations 2008 (CAN 2008) which Ghana was hosting.

[9] However, the airport only operated on a regional level, even though it had had the full complement of security, customs, and immigration staff in place since 2003.

The commissioning of the Phase 1 which happened in December 2014, was earmarked with a historic first night landing by the then President John Dramani Mahama.

[22] Plans to start working on the phase 2 which is to cost around €65 million had been decided by November 2016, the project covered mainly the construction of a new two-storey ultra-modern terminal of 7,000 square metres of space based on a 400-passenger per hour and an annual passenger traffic forecast of 1,500,000, parking areas and a ring road around the airport.

[23] In December 2016, President John Dramani Mahama along with a representative of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asafohene Acheamfuo Kwame Akowuah cut the sod for work to begin on the second phase of the Prempeh I International Airport project by Contracta Engenhiria Ltd[24][25] In June 2018, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cut sod for the second phase of the expansion of Prempeh I International Airport, which is expected to be completed in 24 months.