Joyce Bawah Mogtari, the Special Aide to President John Dramani Mahama, has made a case for Ghana to have a national carrier in the airline industry.
Her argument follows the debate over whether the nation should fully own an airline or opt for a public-private partnership.
This comes after the government set up a 10-member committee to plan the revival of the national airline, which collapsed in June 2005 under former President John Agyekum Kufuor.
Following the inauguration of the committee, there has been a debate over whether the airline should be fully national or partly owned. But according to the special aide to the President, who is also a private legal practitioner, there are numerous reasons for Ghana to have a national carrier rather than opting for a public-private partnership.
In a social media post on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, the former Minister of Transport explained that “Ghana’s strategic geographic location at the heart of West Africa positions it naturally as a hub for trade, job creation, tourism, and investment,” making it prudent for the nation to wholly own a carrier.
She explains that “the absence of a reliable national airline has constrained our ability to fully capitalize on growing regional and global air traffic,” adding that “establishing a national carrier would not only enhance direct connectivity between Accra and major global destinations but also boost tourism, facilitate business travel and support economic diversification.”
She further explained that the economic impact of this feat would extend beyond aviation, aside from the fact that a national airline would “provide direct routes that reduce travel time and costs for both Ghanaians and international visitors, making Ghana more competitive as a regional gateway.”
Find below the full write-up she posted on her social media:
Joyce Bawa Mogtari writes…
Since the official liquidation of Ghana’s national carrier, successive governments have made numerous attempts to revive the country’s airline industry. The idea of reintroducing a national airline has surfaced repeatedly over the years, yet without lasting success. During the 2024 campaign, President John Dramani Mahama made a firm commitment to reestablish Ghana’s National Airline which is an essential step toward restoring national pride and boosting our economic potential. True to his word, he has inaugurated a 10-member Task Force mandated to deliver on this strategic promise.
Interestingly, this proposal has sparked significant national debate. Some argue for full government ownership, while others suggest a public-private partnership with an established airline, one that will leverage Ghana’s national identity without assuming full operational responsibility. Now, these discussions reflect the broader question: does Ghana truly need a national carrier?
In my view, the answer is a resounding yes.
Ghana’s strategic geographic location at the heart of West Africa positions it naturally as a hub for trade, job creation, tourism and investment. However, the absence of a reliable national airline has constrained our ability to fully capitalize on growing regional and global air traffic. I believe establishing a national carrier would not only enhance direct connectivity between Accra and major global destinations but also boost tourism, facilitate business travel and support economic diversification.
Moreover, a national airline would provide direct routes that reduce travel time and costs for both Ghanaians and international visitors, making Ghana more competitive as a regional gateway. And the economic impact would extend beyond aviation: job creation, skills development and technological innovation in the sector would have a ripple effect on allied industries such as hospitality, logistics and aircraft maintenance.
Importantly, a well-governed and professionally managed national carrier would be a symbol of national ambition and pride and reflect Ghana’s pursuit of growth, self-reliance and global integration. By learning from past mistakes and implementing a sound business model with strong regulatory oversight, we can build a sustainable, homegrown airline that contributes meaningfully to our development agenda – the Ghana we want!
The time has come not just to revisit this idea, but to realize it with clarity of vision, institutional discipline and strong political will.
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