The Minister of Transport, Hon. Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has called on domestic airline operators in Ghana to reduce air transport fares, citing the significant appreciation of the Ghanaian cedi against the US dollar and other major currencies.
He urged the operators of airlines to follow the example of road transport operators, who recently cut their fares by 15%, and expressed concern over the limited competition in Ghana's domestic airline industry leading to a kind of monopoly and keeping fares rigid.
Speaking at the stakeholders' breakfast meeting of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) in Accra, the sector Minister confirmed that the government is in active discussions with airline operators, who have expressed a willingness to consider some reductions.
Beyond fare reductions, the Minister also assured stakeholders of the government's dedication to improving aviation infrastructure across the country. He specifically mentioned upcoming upgrades to the runways of the Prempeh I International Airport in Kumasi and the Tamale Airport.
Echoing the commitment of the government to enhancing Ghana's aviation sector, the acting Director-General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Rev. Stephen Wilfred Arthur, pledged to complete ongoing projects at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to solidify Ghana's position as an aviation hub in Africa.
Among these projects is the upgrading of KIA's tower center, with the construction of a modern air traffic control tower center expected to be completed by the end of next year (2026).
This new facility will significantly enhance airspace management systems, boosting radar surveillance, communication efficiency, and safety protocols, thereby attracting more international carriers to Ghana.
He mentioned that GCAA is also improving its data systems to streamline and harmonise flight activities. This includes the overdue implementation of the advanced passenger information system (APIS) and the passenger name record (PNR) system and explained that the sophisticated APIS will centralise passenger data for analysis by state security agencies, enabling the Ghana Immigration Service to identify individuals entering Ghana's airspace before their arrival.
This initiative, as stated by the Director General, fully alignes with the global aviation security architecture and strengthens Ghana's coordinated efforts in combating cross-border crime.
The breakfast meeting brought together key industry players, including the Ghana Airport Company Limited, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Air Force, and representatives from the domestic airlines, Passion Air and Africa World Airlines.
