Ghana Airports Company delaying aviation school at Ho Airport

On 9th April 2021, Africa World Airline (AWA), made the first test flight to the newly completed Ho Airport. During the ceremony to celebrate the occasion, Togbe Afede XIV, the Founder and Co-Chairman of AWA revealed plans to establish a pilot training school in the Volta Region capital, Ho.

According to him, the establishment of the school is aimed at expanding the region’s economic potential. Already, he noted, the airport will offer great opportunities – including serving as a springboard to boost the region’s tourism sector and other sectors of economic importance.

Happily, in February 2024, after a long delay, Togbe Afede XIV, along with officials of Ghana Airports Company Ltd (GACL) and Africa World Airline (AWA), inspected potential sites for the establishment of aviation academy at the Ho Airport. The GACL team was led by its Managing Director, Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare.

Subsequent to this visit, a report by the Auditor General’s revealed huge financial losses incurred by the country’s five regional airports. The report revealed that, these airports generated a total revenue of GH¢13.13 million in 2022, against an expenditure of GH¢39.14 million.

That is a deficit of about GH¢26.01 million. While the other airports generated some revenues, Ho Airport generated no revenue, but incurred an expenditure of GH¢1.38 million in 2022. This has prompted a discussion on re-evaluation of strategies to optimize regional airport development and maximize economic benefits.

Among the many reasons cited for this, the Auditor-General, Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu, noted the underutilization of airport rentable facilities or space for non-aeronautical revenue.

The report warned that the underutilization airport facilities, such as those at Ho Airport, could lead to the deterioration of the infrastructure. To address these issues, the Auditor-General recommended that GACL management encourage existing and potential domestic airlines to patronize the airports by providing possible incentives.

In addition, the Commercial Service Department of the GACL was advised to identify potential concessionaires to occupy idle spaces to generate more revenue through rent and royalties.

During the February 2024 visit, Togbe spoke extensively about plans to also establish an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facility (MRO) at the Ho Airport, “which would mean that instead of aircraft going abroad for the various checks, they can come to Ho for basic maintenance services”. He added, “it would also mean that we can attract aircraft from other countries to come here for maintenance services. This has tremendous ramifications. Apart from providing jobs for the people of Ghana, we are talking about opportunities for more Ghanaians to train as aircraft maintenance engineers”.

They toured all available sites at the airport and held talks with various stakeholders, including representatives of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and the Lands Commission in the Volta Region. Nana Afriyie-Opare told journalists that the aviation school dream, when realised, would be a centre of excellence with very bright prospects of boosting the local economy.

“We are collaborating with AWA to develop a pilot training academy and aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility that will create employment and boost economic activity in the area,” she said.

Togbe Afede commended GACL for agreeing to allocate land for the project, which will also train aircraft engineers and other professionals for the aviation industry. “If trainee pilots and engineers come here, and if we can service aircraft here instead of going to South Africa to do so, then Ghana’s aviation sector will be lifted to greater heights,” he said.

In addressing the media, the Managing Director of GACL promised allocation of land for the project within two weeks, Togbe having already made the required 30% initial payment for the land since June 2023.

It has been over six (6) months and everyone is asking why Ghana Airport Company Limited is delaying the release of land for the commencement of projects that will create employment, while reducing the losses referred to by the Auditor General.