Ghana’s Cabinet greenlights new national carrier project

The Ghanaian Cabinet has granted policy approval for establishing a new flag carrier with strategic partner participation, President Nana Akufo-Addo announced. Delivering his State of the Nation address on March 9, 2021, Akufo-Addo made a brief mention in this regard but gave no further details, except to say that his parliament would be “duly informed on developments in this area”. Last year, the government announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with EgyptAir (MS, Cairo Int’l) over the establishment of a new national airline. EgyptAir confirmed it had agreed to invest an initial USD100 million in Ghana’s new national carrier and to initially supply four unidentified aircraft – presumably narrowbodies. The North African carrier had reportedly angled for a 70% stake in the start-up. In November 2019, Ghana and Boeing signed a Memorandum of Understanding for three B787-9s to relaunch the national airline. At the time, Ghana’s aviation minister, Joseph Kofi Adda, said the carrier would establish Accra Kotoka International Airport as a strategic hub that served cities across West Africa as well as Europe, North America, and Asia. Ghana has not had a flag carrier since May 2010, when Ghana International Airlines (G0, Accra) collapsed after the government’s withdrawal of funding. GIA had operated scheduled and charter passenger and cargo services from its home base at Kotoka International Airport, Accra. It was owned by the Ghanaian government (70%) and US consortium GIA-USA (30%). At the time of its closure, it operated one B757-200. The original Ghana Airways (GH, Accra) was founded in 1958 but folded in 2004. Ghana’s location is considered strategic as a regional air hub for West Africa. Kotoka International Airport has been renovated and expanded to include a new terminal. Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo said the construction of the second and third phases of Kumasi, the second phase of Tamale, and the rehabilitation of Sunyani airport were all progressing steadily. He said a decision on the siting of a proposed airport in the Central and Western Regions was imminent.