The Government is in the process of establishing a national airline, President John Dramani Mahama has hinted.
The President made this disclosure during a credential ceremony at the Presidency in Accra, where he received letters of credence from Dr. Abdulla Muraid Sulaiman Mohammed Al Mandoos, the Ambassador of the UAE to Ghana.
President Mahama noted that when the time comes to seek expressions of interest from countries with established commitment and technical expertise, Ghana would consider partnering with the UAE to set up the national airline.
“And so, when we get to that stage, I know that apart from Emirates, like Dubai and several other companies, if they’re interested in partnering with Ghana to take advantage of Ghana as an aviation hub, we’ll be willing to work with the UAE,” he said.
He recalled that when Ghana Airways initially launched routes from Accra to Dubai, there were very few passengers traveling to the UAE.
“Today, we have daily flights with Emirates between Accra and Dubai, and we appreciate that very much,” he added.
President Mahama encouraged further investments from Gulf countries into Ghana, highlighting numerous opportunities across different sectors.
He cited existing investments, such as a partnership between Abu Dhabi and the Volta River Authority, which led to the establishment of the Takoradi Thermal Power Plant (TICO), a facility that continues to provide electricity for Ghana.
He emphasized ongoing discussions to expand cooperation across various sectors in Ghana.
One of Ghana’s major exports to the UAE is gold, and the President stated that the government is working to formalize and regulate gold trade.
He announced that Ghana was in the process of establishing a Gold Board to oversee the formal export of gold to friendly countries interested in purchasing the commodity, ensuring greater transparency in the trade.
He added that Ghana would engage in discussions with the UAE regarding this initiative.
Beyond trade, President Mahama highlighted the significant number of Ghanaians working in the UAE, many of whom enter through informal arrangements.
To address this, the government is developing the Ghana Labour Export Programme, which aims to train young professionals in fields such as electrical engineering, carpentry, masonry, welding, and construction to meet international standards.
This initiative, he explained, will facilitate the legal and structured migration of Ghanaian workers, ensuring they receive adequate protection from the UAE government.
“Sometimes they run into trouble when they go to the UAE. So, we want to see how we can formalize that agreement so that when they go, they go legally and have all the protection they need from the UAE government,” he stated.
On the diplomatic front, President Mahama highlighted Ghana’s progress in strengthening ties with the UAE. He recalled the establishment of a consulate in 2011 and an embassy in Abu Dhabi in 2017, noting that Ghana-UAE relations had been fruitful.
Addressing climate change, the President expressed gratitude to the UAE for its support, particularly a $30 million climate change facility granted to Ghana last September to enhance community resilience against climate change.
“We know that Africa has contributed the least to climate change but is suffering the most from its effects,” he remarked.
“And so, when friendly countries like the UAE come around to help us with our petition, it is something that we appreciate.”
President Mahama also emphasized the need for cooperation in combating terrorism, describing it as a global threat.
He noted that West Africa has become a major target for terrorist and jihadist groups, particularly following the fall of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s regime, which contributed to rising violence in the Sahel.
He further mentioned that the defeat of ISIS in Syria and other regions has led many fighters to find refuge in the Sahel.
“These groups are currently involved in different attacks in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger,” he said, stressing the need for international collaboration to counter terrorism in the affected regions.
On his part, Dr. Abdulla Muraid Sulaiman Mohammed Al Mandoos, the UAE Ambassador to Ghana, called for strengthened bilateral relations between the UAE and Ghana.
Watch the latest edition of BizTech below:
Click here to follow the GhanaWeb Business WhatsApp channel