Ghana’s proposed national airline is set to become operational within the next 12 months, Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe has announced.
The minister expressed strong confidence that all outstanding documentation, regulatory approvals, and other preparatory processes would be completed in time for the national carrier to commence flights.
Mr Nikpe made the disclosure while speaking to the media on the sidelines of the maiden flight of Air Tanzania at the Kotoka International Airport on Tuesday, January 28, 2026.
He noted that successive governments had made several unsuccessful attempts to revive a national airline since the liquidation of Ghana Airways, but the current administration under President John Dramani Mahama was fully committed to making it a reality.
“For some time, since Ghana Airways was liquidated, several attempts have been made to re-establish a national airline, but these efforts have not come to fruition,” Mr Nikpe said.
“However, I firmly believe that under President Mahama, we have set up a task force, and the task force is working. Within the next 12 months, we will be celebrating a Ghanaian airline flying to the rest of the world,” he added.
The minister did not provide further specifics on the proposed ownership structure, potential partners, fleet acquisition plans, or initial routes. However, he assured that the process was advancing steadily and methodically.
Efforts to establish a new national carrier gained momentum earlier in 2025, with the government forming a 10-member task force in May to develop the business plan, operational framework, and recommendations for the airline. The task force, chaired by former Ghana Airports Company Limited Managing Director Charles Asare, submitted its report to President Mahama in December 2025.
Previous initiatives to launch a flag carrier have faced challenges, including financial constraints and regulatory hurdles. The revival is seen as a key step to boost Ghana’s aviation sector, enhance regional and international connectivity, and position the country as a competitive hub in West Africa.