Ghana is set to formalise operations for a proposed new national airline within the next 12 months, according to Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe, amid the latest efforts to restore a state carrier since Ghana Airways (Accra) ceased operations in 2004, the GhanaWeb news agency reports.
Welcoming a new 3x weekly Air Tanzania service to Accra from Dar es Salaam on January 28, Nikpe assured that all outstanding regulatory processes and documentation would be completed within the year. "Within the next 12 months, we will be celebrating a Ghanaian airline flying to the rest of the world," he promised.
The government established a 10-member national airline task team in May 2025 to oversee the revival of a national carrier, including fleet acquisition, staffing, and route planning. The team is chaired by Charles Asare, former managing director of the Ghana Airports Company Limited, and includes aviation professionals and former regulators.
Nikpe did not disclose details on the planned airline’s ownership or fleet, but noted that the project is progressing steadily.
Previous attempts to establish a national carrier, including Ghana International Airlines in 2010, have failed.
The new national airline is not to be confused with the privately owned Air Ghana, which attained an air operator's certificate (AOC) in 2014. It operates ACMI cargo flights for DHL Aviation SSA under the DHL Express brand and is poised to launch passenger operations in the first quarter of 2026 as it works to complete regulatory requirements and finalise its aircraft acquisition.
