Qatar Airlines interested in new Ghana airline

Deputy Minister of Transport Joyce Bawa Mogtari has disclosed that several airlines have shown interest in partnering government in the bid to get a new national carrier for the country.

Among the international airlines mentioned by the deputy minister are Qatar Airlines, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines.

After previous unsuccessful attempts to keep a national carrier in business, painstaking efforts are being taken to get a new one.

“We have had request from Kenya Airways, Qatari Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines [and] several others,” said Mrs Mogtari.

“So the question of interest is not in doubt. It is just that we don’t want to make any mistakes this time.”

Government is planning to get a “strategic investor” to partner in the deal.

Not more than 30 per cent stake will be held by the Government of Ghana, the deputy minister said.

What Ghana is more interested in is the fleet “that is required”.

“We can contribute through the local content – that is our airports, our human resource capacity and tax incentives that will be given such a company to invest.”

TV3 gathers that the country is yet to be certified to operate a national airline. The process could take at least six months, Mrs Mogtari said.

“Chances are that you can find an existing airline that is willing…in situations like that all you have to do is the branding exercise and then you are good to go.”