Ghana Airways ceased operations in 2004, followed by Ghana International Airlines in 2010
The Government of Ghana is exploring a strategic partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to revive a national airline, following high-level discussions between senior officials from both countries in Abu Dhabi.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed the development in a Facebook post on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, after leading a government delegation on a two-day official visit to the UAE at the invitation of its government.
According to Ablakwa, the talks covered a range of bilateral issues, with particular focus on two key priorities of President John Dramani Mahama’s administration: labour export for Ghanaian youth and technical support for a new national airline.
“We also discussed two priority areas of President Mahama’s government, labour export for Ghanaian youth to the UAE and technical support for a new national airline,” he wrote.
Ablakwa held meetings with top UAE officials including His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State; and Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs.
Other ministers overseeing foreign trade and investment also participated.
The Foreign Minister noted that both countries had agreed to initiate formal political consultations, a first in the history of Ghana-UAE relations.
Efforts to restore a national carrier have been made in the past, but with limited success. Ghana Airways ceased operations in 2004, followed by Ghana International Airlines in 2010.
Additionally, several proposals since then, both private and public, have failed to materialize.
As part of renewed efforts, the government on May 8, 2025, inaugurated a 10-member National Airline Task Force to drive the airline’s revival.
The task force has been tasked with developing a viable business model, engaging strategic and technical partners, overseeing regulatory approvals, and handling critical operational areas such as staffing, fleet acquisition, and route planning.
The task force is chaired by Charles Asare, former Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company Limited, and includes aviation professionals, former regulators, and Presidential Advisor Joyce Bawah Mogtari.
Ablakwa further revealed that his engagements in Abu Dhabi had opened new opportunities for Ghana in areas such as renewable energy, artificial intelligence, healthcare, education, aviation, and defence, pointing to growing investor interest from the Gulf state.
MA