Aviation company poised to make Ghana its West African hub

Atibie (E/R) March 27, GNA - A manufacturing company in ultra light aircrafts is set to start operations in Ghana next month to serve the domestic and the West African markets, Vice President Mahama has announced.

Their products, which would include parachutes, para-motors and ultra light gliders, would be used for agricultural, tourism, health, sports, communication, security and advertising purposes.

In an address to open Ghana's first Hang and Para-Gliding at Kwahu-Atibie in the Kwahu South District, Vice President Mahama said one ultra-light aircraft, which costs less than a pick-up vehicle, has already been built near, Okwenya in the Eastern Region.

The Vice President explained: "These developments will open up new rural centres for leisure activity, improved agricultural practices and monitoring, new opportunities in information campaigns to rural communities, manufacturing and development throughout the country and the entire Sub-Region."

The launch of the company and its activities are expected to create initial 250 jobs in Ghana.

Vice President Mahama expressed the hope that Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering course being offered at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology would complement the efforts to make Ghana an epi-centre for aviation-related tourism, manufacture, training and development.

He encouraged the local private sector operators to look for opportunities of investments and partnerships in the industry. In an interview with the GNA, Mr Jonathan Porter, Marketing Director of West African Air Solutions and Service Providers (WAASPS), which is awaiting its license to start operation, expressed the hope that the bureaucratic bottlenecks would be eliminated to give way for business to commerce.

Mr Porter explained that ultra light aircrafts could be used to irrigate or spray farm fields, especially rice and crop plantations, spray insecticides to control diseases, monitor pipelines for power and water and for security patrolling purposes.

India, he said, was utilizing the technology on a widespread basis towards rural development.

WAASPS intends to build its aircrafts at Okwenya in the Eastern Region.