International Airlines Seek Direct Access to Kumasi Airport For Landing Rights

Ghana is stepping up its aviation game, with several international airlines applying for permission to operate direct flights to Kumasi International Airport.

This move comes as a response to the growing number of passengers arriving at Kotoka International Airport in Accra and then continuing their journeys to Kumasi, coupled with significant improvements in infrastructure.

The Deputy Minister of Transport, Alhassan Tampuli, made this revelation during a celebratory event marking Air France’s 90 years of global aviation service, hosted at the French Ambassador’s residence in Ghana, Jules Armand Aniambossou.

As part of the government’s efforts to transform Kumasi International Airport to meet international standards, Mr. Tampuli confirmed that work on aviation infrastructure was well underway.

Notably, the government has a broader vision that encompasses all regional facilities and the flagship Kotoka International Airport, aiming to make Ghana the regional hub for international airlines and passenger travel.

This ambitious development has already resulted in an upsurge in scheduled flights to Accra by numerous international airlines, effectively boosting Ghana’s position in the global aviation network.

In an exclusive interview with JoyBusiness, the Deputy Minister shared some remarkable statistics. The number of passengers arriving in Accra now surpasses pre-pandemic levels, reaching over one million arrivals.

This remarkable growth is partly due to the increased number of scheduled flights and government policies aimed at enhancing the country’s aviation infrastructure.

Furthermore, the Deputy Minister revealed that the government had received applications from airlines in Spain and Italy, expressing interest in flying directly to Accra, further solidifying Ghana’s position on the international aviation map.

The Deputy Minister of Transport also touched upon significant enhancements in passenger processes. The digitization of procedures has eliminated the need for passengers to fill out forms when traveling to and from Ghana, drastically reducing the previously complex and time-consuming procedures.