Indian High Commissioner and Iranian Ambassador call on Aviation Minister

The Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Iran have expressed their resolve to deepen diplomatic ties with Ghana, especially in the aviation sector, which has lots of potential for the Region.

Mr Birender Singh, the High Commissioner of India, and Dr Nosratolla Maleki, the Iranian Ambassador, who paid separate courtesy calls on Mrs Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the Minister of Aviation, on Wednesday, commended Ghana’s aviation industry, especially with the soon to be inaugurated Terminal Three Project at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

The two called on the Minister to discuss and build on existing bilateral agreements relating to the aviation sector and investments between the two countries and Ghana.

Authorities at the Ghana Airports Company Limited say when the Terminal Three Project is complete, it would process more than five million passengers annually instead of the current 2.5 million being processed at Terminal Two.

Mr Singh described the Project as a laudable investment, which would help boost the industry in Ghana, just as the Delhi International Airport Terminal Three Project, established in 2010.

He described KIA as one of the finest airports in the Region and that India had the third largest domestic air traffic in the world, and the total air traffic for last year was 270 million.

He said the Delhi Airport contributed 60 million and becoming the seventh busiest airport within Asia and the 20th in the world.

Mr Singh said the Embassy would work to ensure that more Indian investors were wooed to Ghana since the country had much to offer investors.

He said India hoped to review the existing air services agreement signed with Ghana in 1978.

Ms Dapaah, on her part, said work on the 274 million-dollar KIA Terminal Three project was in its final touches stage, and when fully completed and commissioned, would be the hub for West Africa.

She expressed the belief that very soon India and other countries could fly direct to Ghana, as more measures were being taken to expand the industry in the country.

She said travelling by air was still the safest, fastest and economically viable of all the transportation systems, and so the government was working on expanding the sector through the construction of additional terminals at Kumasi and Tamale airports, while that of Ho would soon be commissioned.

She said the rest of the regional capitals would also have their own commercial airports later through partnerships.

Ms Dapaah said most airlines, including Air Namibia and Qatar Airline were ready to commence operation from KIA while Air France had indicated

plans to increase its flights from three times a week to seven, making Accra the hub of their operations in the Sub-region.

She said Ghana was also discussing with other countries including Sao Tome to scrap the visa on arrival system, saying that in about three weeks Ghanaians who travelled to Sao Tome would not need visas.

Dr Maleki, on his part, said the call was to follow up on recent meetings with Ghanaian officials in which an MOU was signed in the area of aviation.

He said Iran and Ghana were exploring how private Iranian investors could invest in the aviation sector, especially in the area of technology.