Efforts to establish a new national carrier for Ghana are progressing steadily, with the task force mandated to drive the process close to concluding its work, according to Transport Minister Hon. Joseph Bukari Nikpe. The Minister said the envisioned airline is intended to deepen Ghana’s footprint in the aviation sector, boost regional air connectivity, and ease the movement of people and goods across Africa.Speaking at the inaugural launch of Uganda Airlines’ Accra-Entebbe route, Hon. Nikpe noted that government believes a home-based airline is essential to complement the country’s investment in modern airport infrastructure.
He recalled the collapse of the former Ghana Airways, stressing that government is determined to restore a national presence in aviation. “We cannot have beautiful airports and link them to other airports without participating in the aviation industry itself,” he emphasized.Mr. Nikpe expressed confidence that the task force would soon complete its assignment, paving the way for Ghana to operate alongside other African carriers in promoting intra-continental mobility for trade, industry, work, and tourism. In a related development, Uganda Airlines has announced plans to scale up its Accra operations to daily flights from the current four weekly services, as part of efforts to strengthen links between West and East Africa.
Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Girma Wake, described the current schedule as a starting point and expressed gratitude to the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority for its support, including traffic rights between Accra and Lagos, even though the airline is yet to utilize that route.For her part, Managing Director of Ghana Airports Company Limited, Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, said the new service will not only expand travel choices for passengers but also stimulate tourism, trade, and economic cooperation between Ghana and Uganda.
