GACL MD Calls for Stronger International Connectivity to Position Accra as West Africa’s Aviation Hub

 

The Managing Director of Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), Yvonne Nana Afriyiye Opare, has called for expanded international and regional air connectivity as a critical step toward positioning Accra as the true aviation hub of West Africa.

Speaking during a panel discussion at the 5th AviationGhana Breakfast Meeting held in Accra on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, Opare said achieving hub status requires deliberate efforts to increase flight options and improve transit traffic through Ghana.

We often talk about Ghana becoming the aviation hub. There are a lot of things we have to do; there is a lot of work ahead of us. Number one is connectivity in the region,” she stated.

She noted that intra-African travel remains inefficient, with journeys between African countries sometimes taking up to 24 hours due to limited direct connections. According to her, this undermines the continent’s aviation growth potential and presents an opportunity for Ghana to lead improvements in regional air links.

Opare stressed the need for more international connections into Accra, alongside expanded regional routes, to make Ghana not only a final destination but also a preferred transit point.

Drawing comparisons with Addis Ababa, she pointed to Ethiopia’s capital as a successful transit hub with extensive global connections.

When you look at Addis Ababa, it is a transit hub, there are a lot of connections going out of Ethiopian to everywhere in the world,” she said.

She maintained that strengthening connectivity would make Accra more attractive to airlines and passengers alike, positioning Ghana as a competitive gateway within West Africa.

The high-level forum, themed “Advancing Ghana’s Aviation Sector: Policy, Connectivity, and Sustainable Growth,” brought together key industry stakeholders to deliberate on policy direction, infrastructure development and improved air connectivity.

The 5th AviationGhana Breakfast Meeting, organised by AviationGhana.com, is an annual event which brings together policymakers and operators from the aviation and travel sectors to discuss important industry issues and seek solutions to various challenges. AviationGhana, located in Accra, Ghana, has been a trusted source of aviation and general travel news for nearly a decade. It serves not only Ghana but also the broader West Africa sub-region. AviationGhana publishes two related publications: The AviationGhana eNewspaper, which is released five times a week and is accessible on all major flights through PressReader, and AviationGhana Magazine, a quarterly publication also available on PressReader.

AviationGhana has a proven track record in driving regional tourism and aviation initiatives. It leverages public relations, marketing strategies, and consumer engagement expertise to enhance its clients’ brand presence, manage crisis communication situations, and build robust media partnerships. The company is also skilled in developing innovative marketing strategies, fostering partnerships, and achieving measurable results. AviationGhana’s portfolio of current and former clients, include: Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, TAAG Angola, APG-Ghana, TAP Portugal, Africa World Airlines, PassionAir, Kenya Airways, ITA Airways, Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), and VFS Global (West Africa & Angola markets)