 Flying high
Ghana is serious about liberalizing its skies, welcoming more cargo and passenger planes at its under-utilized Kotoka International Airport at Accra. Since the opening of its dedicated freight terminal, the airport has been experiencing a steady increase in traffic volume, becoming a favored rest stop for a growing number of airlines transiting through Lagos, Nigeria. In international aviation circles, Kotoka is considered a safe and efficiently run airport. At present, it is one of only three in sub-Saharan Africa from which flights can originate and terminate in the US, underscoring the accomplishments of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
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Obtaining this concession was possible with advice from the AMR consultancy, a subsidiary of American Airlines.
Ghana Airways ' new management is revitalizing the airline's strategy and operations with its primary guideline the support of Vision 2020 helping Ghana become a gateway to Africa. It sees its USA routes, with the access they offer to the large and affluent African-American population, to be of particular importance. Restricted by its small fleet, Ghana Airways will succeed through exceptional and careful management, by growing its local routes, consolidating long-haul operations, and, perhaps most importantly, developing regional and international alliances. Crucial to modernization will be funds realized from privatization. Mr. E. L. Quartey, managing director of Ghana Airways says: "Privatization will bring a badly needed capital injection which could help with fleet expansion, which, left to our own resources, would be difficult to achieve in the appropriate period of time."
Mr. Edward Salia, Transport and Roads Minister, says his ministry is committed to private sector involvement in the industry. "We have demonstrated this in civil aviation, where we have a cargo village managed by a private company. We are also disposed to sell shares of Ghana Airways to a strategic investor."
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GHANA
