The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has given its nod to the much-anticipated national carrier, revealed Deputy Minister of Transport, Hassan Tampuli.
According to mobile.ghanaweb.com, the announcement came during a ceremony in Accra commemorating Air France’s 90th anniversary, where Tampuli shared the groundbreaking news with journalists.
Tampuli disclosed that the government had successfully entered into an agreement with a private group, marking a significant milestone in the establishment of the long-awaited national carrier. “We have already signed a shareholders’ agreement with them,” he affirmed, signaling the commitment of both parties to this ambitious venture.
The incorporation of the company is already complete, and the GCAA has granted the initial license, marking the commencement of a new era in Ghana’s aviation history. Tampuli elaborated on the progress, stating, “We are currently waiting for the company to identify the type of aircraft they will use, and the final license will be awarded after the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority inspects those aircraft. At present, we are still in the incubation stage.”
The strategic approach involves careful consideration of the aircraft to be employed, ensuring compliance with international standards and safety regulations. The impending inspection by the GCAA represents a crucial step towards securing the final license for the national carrier.
Need for due diligence
When asked about timelines for issuance of the final licence and outdooring the carrier, his response was that it is challenging to provide an immediate timeframe because there is a substantial amount of due diligence to be conducted on the private company.
Additionally, Mr. Tampuli, who’s also the Member of Parliament for Gushegu said: “We need to assess our bilateral air service agreement (BASA) to determine which routes are available to Ghana. These considerations and calculations are crucial for understanding the business model that they [the private group] will be applying in partnering with government”.
Two more carriers seek entry into Ghana
The deputy transport minister also stated that government has received formal applications from two airlines – one based in Spain and another in Italy – seeking approval to establish direct services to Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
“So, yes, Ghana is open for business. Airlines are coming. They keep knocking on our door and we are ready; we have the infrastructure to accommodate them and give an experience that will make them come again,” he stated.
KIA is Currently served by 23 international and regional flights, with three domestic airlines – Africa World Airlines (AWA), PassionAir and GIAN AIR – offering scheduled and non-scheduled domestic flights.