Restoration of Ghana Airways key to economic reset agenda – Gov’t

Government has revealed plans to restore Ghana Airways as part of a broader strategy to boost national pride, reset the economy and strengthen engagement with the African diaspora, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has said.

According to Mr Ablakwa, the proposed revival of the national carrier is driven by clear economic considerations and a Pan-African vision that prioritises connectivity, investment and self-reliance, rather than sentiment or nostalgia.

Speaking at the closing session of the 2025 Diaspora Summit in Accra, Mr Ablakwa said the absence of a national carrier has led to significant capital flight, particularly during major international events that attract large numbers of diaspora visitors.

He explained that revenues from airline ticket purchases for such events often flow outside the country, denying Ghana the opportunity to retain and reinvest those funds into the local economy.

“Just imagine the thousands of you who attended this Diaspora Summit. If all those tickets had been bought on our own airline, that money would have stayed in the Ghanaian economy,” he said.

Mr Ablakwa said the restoration of Ghana Airways would improve access to the country for Africans in the diaspora and support initiatives such as discounted airfares during major national and Pan-African events.

He noted that such incentives would encourage more frequent travel, strengthen cultural connections and enhance diaspora participation in Ghana’s development efforts.

The Foreign Affairs Minister disclosed that a technical committee set up by President John Dramani Mahama to assess the feasibility of restoring the national airline is close to completing its work.

He said government is determined to ensure that the return of Ghana Airways is sustainable, professionally managed and shielded from the operational and financial challenges that undermined previous national carriers.

Describing the initiative as more than a transport project, Mr Ablakwa said its successful implementation would signal renewed confidence in Ghana’s ability to manage complex national institutions.

He further linked the airline’s revival to the country’s wider Pan-African and diaspora engagement agenda, arguing that improved air connectivity would position Ghana as a preferred gateway between Africa and its global diaspora.

According to him, enhanced connectivity would support tourism, trade, cultural exchange and investment across the continent and beyond.

Mr Ablakwa said the planned restoration of Ghana Airways would complement other government measures aimed at deepening diaspora ties, including the introduction of an e-visa policy in the first quarter of 2026.

Under the proposed policy, special dispensations will be granted to Africans in the diaspora to make travel to Ghana easier and more affordable.

He said the combined impact of the airline revival and the e-visa initiative would reduce barriers to engagement and create more opportunities for Africans abroad to return, invest and collaborate locally.

The Minister stressed that Ghana’s economic reset agenda will move forward alongside the country’s pursuit of reparatory justice, noting that both priorities are compatible and mutually reinforcing.

He added that the focus going forward is to build a resilient national airline capable of competing effectively while advancing Ghana’s strategic interests at home and across the African continent.