The Minister for Aviation, Cecilia Abena Dapaah has disclosed that the government’s quest for a strategic partner for a home-based carrier looks very promising.
She mentioned this at the launch of the 12th Routes Africa Conference on Friday, in Accra.
The country has been without a national airline since 2010, when Ghana International Airlines, GIA, ceased operations due to its high indebtedness.
Dapaah noted that, over the past one year the ministry has engaged various investors, both local and foreign, to partner government in establishing a home-based carrier.
She said, “We need an airline that will sleep in Ghana, wakeup in Ghana and work in Ghana.”
The home-based carrier is expected to help the country derive maximum benefit from the aviation sector which supports 6.8 million jobs and contributes US$ 72.5 billion to GDP in Africa.
This carrier is likely to develop new routes using government’s policies as the guideline.
Dapaah again highlighted the efforts being done to get more domestic airlines in the country.
“We are working on the domestic travel, now we have ‘Africa World Airline’ (AWA). We have other airlines lined-up; the surest is the Baby Jet Airline.”
Baby Jet Airlines and Unity Airlines are at the fourth, out of the five stages of the certification process, awaiting validation and demonstration phase involving non-revenue flights to simulate various situations to ensure compliance to GCAA standards.
Currently, Ashanti Airlines and Gold Coast Airlines have put in applications for an Air Carrier Licence to go through the stages leading to a certification process and issuance of an Air Operating Certificate to properly situate them as fully fledged airlines capable of operating scheduled passenger service and cargo operations.
The focus of government is to ensure that the aviation industry is given the needed boost to position it strategically amongst its competitors in the sub-region and beyond, Dapaah reiterated.
By Joshua W. Amlanu
