Ghana’s President Mahama Announces Bold New National Airline Initiative Amid Past Setbacks
Ghana’s returning president, John Dramani Mahama, has declared that his government intends to resume efforts to establish a national airline in partnership with “competent” and established industry players. During his first State of the Nation address since his reelection in December, President Mahama emphasized that reopening a transparent expression of interest is the first step toward inviting potential partners to join the initiative. He stressed that an efficient national carrier would help reduce fares on routes where external carriers have maintained a monopoly, thereby improving connectivity for the Ghanaian public.
Mahama, who is serving his second term after previously holding office from 2012 to 2017, noted that previous attempts to re-establish a national airline had failed. This latest announcement formally confirms the collapse of GhanaAirlines (Accra), the national carrier that was intended to be operated by Ghana’s privately owned Ashanti Airlines. In May 2024, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) confirmed that Ashanti Airlines’ certification had been suspended because the company did not submit sufficient information. This development led to the downfall of the nascent GhanaAirlines project and left Ghana without a national carrier since the collapse of Ghana International Airlines in 2010, which followed the earlier demise of Ghana Airways in 2004.
The failed venture was originally conceived as a public-private partnership involving prominent Ghanaian entrepreneurs Ernest Ofori Sarpong and Osei Kwame Despite of Despite Group. Under the proposed structure, strategic partners were expected to hold a 49% share, local individuals and corporate institutions would control 41%, and the Ghanaian government would contribute a 10% stake. A UK-based backer, Zotus Group—co-founded by former England footballer Emile Heskey and entrepreneur Davison Simango—was also involved in the deal. Ashanti Airlines was initially expected to launch the national carrier with a fleet of up to five ATR72-600s, but the plan was derailed when certification issues emerged.
President Mahama’s renewed focus on establishing a national airline comes as part of a broader strategy to boost connectivity, tourism, and trade within Ghana. The government’s intention is to restart the process on a clean slate by engaging with partners who can deliver the operational expertise and financial backing needed for success. The president expressed optimism that learning from past failures would pave the way for a robust and competitive national carrier that can meet the country’s transportation needs. By reducing reliance on external carriers and improving domestic air connectivity, Ghana hopes to stimulate economic growth and open up new opportunities for regional development.
This announcement follows earlier efforts in 2018 and 2020 when Ghana signed separate memoranda of understanding with Ethiopian Airlines and EgyptAir in attempts to revive a national carrier—efforts that ultimately did not materialize. With a renewed call for transparency and competence, the government is determined to overcome the challenges that previously hindered progress in the aviation sector. As the process unfolds, industry analysts will be watching closely to see whether the new initiative can finally secure the necessary partnerships and regulatory approvals to launch a successful national airline.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com