Ghana's plan to re-establish a national airline is making progress, with the task force set up to oversee the project nearing completion of its work.
Transport Minister, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, disclosed this at the launch of Uganda Airlines' Accra-Entebbe service.
According to him, a national carrier is needed to complement government's investment in airport infrastructure and to enable Ghana to actively participate in the aviation industry, improve regional connectivity and facilitate the movement of people and goods across the continent.
"All of us are aware that Ghana used to have Ghana Airways, which got liquidated some years back. His Excellency the President is thinking that we cannot have beautiful airports and connect our airports to other airports without participating in that industry of aviation or flying people," Mr. Nikpe said.
He expressed optimism that Ghana would soon join carriers like Uganda Airlines in strengthening air transport links across Africa.
"And so very soon, the task force is almost done with their work. And very soon, we will join Uganda Airlines to be able to move our people from producing centres to the marketplaces, from the marketplaces to the factories, and from workplaces to other tourism sites, so that Africans will have that kind of free movement within our own continent," he added.
Meanwhile, Uganda Airlines says it is targeting daily flights between Accra and Entebbe, up from the current four flights a week, to deepen connectivity between West and East Africa.
The airline's Chief Executive Officer, Girma Wake, said the four-times-weekly service to Accra is only the beginning of its ambitions in the Ghanaian market.
"We first of all thank the Ghana Civil Aviation for offering us all the support that we required, for giving us huge freedom traffic between Accra and Lagos, even though at the moment we will not be able to use it. But we are very grateful that you blessed our operation to Ghana," he said.
Managing Director of Ghana Airports Company Limited, Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, said the new service will expand travel options while boosting tourism, trade and economic cooperation between Ghana and Uganda.