Africa World Airlines to still pursue national carrier ambition

Africa World Airlines (AWA) has told Citi Business News it will still pursue its ambition to partner government in the establishment of a new national airline.

Africa World is a Ghanaian-Chinese company, with Strategic African Securities (SAS) and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) representing the Ghanaian stake, in partnership with the Hainan Airline of China and the China-Africa Development Fund (the CAD Fund).

It is the only local airline which has so far expressed interest in the revival of the national airline.

Ghana has begun moves to establish a new national airline under a Public Private Partnership (PPP).

Government in August this year, appointed audit and professional services firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) as transaction advisors for the new national airline for Ghana.

The national airline will be run on a public-private partnership basis, and PWC is expected to advise government on the ownership structure, funding, business model and routes among others.

This is Ghana’s third attempt at running a national airline.

The previous two collapsed due to debt and mismanagement.

Speaking to Citi Business News the Chief Operations Officer for Africa World Airlines Apiigy Afenu said the local airline will go ahead with moves to partner government to run the new airline.

‘We have a business plan independent of government. So we see will wait and look at the terms being offered by government if it makes financial and strategic sense for us to go into partnership with government, yes ,will will that.’

 

By:  Vivian Kai Mensah/citifmonline.com/Ghana