How Ghana settled for Ghana Airlines as new national carrier

 

The Ghanaian Government for months battled for a name for its new national airline that is expected to be launched in January 2023.

Ahead of the selection, names such as Akwaaba Airlines, Black Star Airlines, and Kente were mooted as part of the efforts to get suitable names that will reflect Ghana’s culture and boost the enterprise.

But the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, presenting the 2023 budget before Parliament on November 24, 2022, said, “Mr. Speake, shareholders and partnership agreement signed with the selected strategic partners for the home-based carrier which will be known as Ghanaian Airlines. The airline is expected to be operationalised in 2023”.

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Although the Finance Minister did not provide further details about the potential partners and shareholders, it has been reported that Ashanti Airlines has been selected as the preferred choice to partner government for its new home-based carrier”.

It is also understood that Ashanti Airlines, which is owned by business moguls, Osei Kwame Despite and his partner, Dr. Ernest Ofori-Sarpong are nearing processes to complete the financial arrangements before operationalisation begins in 2023.

At the moment, Ashanti Airlines has secured its Air Carrier Licence (ACL), and is seeking to complete the issuance of its Air Operators Licence (AOC) which permits an operator to undertake specified commercial air transport operations.

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Since the collapse of Ghana Airways in 2004 and the subsequent collapse of Ghana International Airways in 2010, Ghana has been without a national airline for international flight operations.

Wole Shadare