An international aviation consultant says the lack of a long term commercial sustainable policy for Ghana’s aviation sector is stifling the growth of the sector.
According to Sukhjinder Mann the high cost of aviation fuel can be blamed for the withdrawal of international and domestic airlines in Ghana.
The cost of aviation fuel in Ghana is one of the highest within the West African sub region. Specialized fuel is sold for about 2 dollars 30 cents per litre in Nigeria and about 3 dollars 14 cents per litre in Ghana while in Benin and Cameroon; it is going for 2 dollars 30 cents and 1 dollar 94 cents per litre respectively.
Speaking to Citi Business News Sukhjinder Mann said doing business in the aviation industry in Ghana is too expensive.
“Businesses come to do business in Ghana and then they get frustrated which is why a lot of the players in the aviation industry come here as then leave. Infrastructure: yes we are happy to see GACL invest some 120 million dollars to start with but it has been a long time coming, that said, I am very impressed with the renewed passion of the GACL management team and we will support the GACL to help create Accra into an aviation hub. High aviation fuel: because we have one of the highest price per litre in West Africa if not the world. We hear and hear it again but there is no coherent aviation strategy in Ghana, where is the long term plan? as there is no long term blue paper on aviation it will be difficult for commercial aviation to be sustainable.” The key word in aviation for us in the next five to seven years should be “sustainability” especially when you are doing business through Accra. Let me say that again, Accra Ghana is an attractive location but it is a difficult place to do business’. He added.
–
By: Norvan Acquah – Hayford/citifmonline.com/Ghana
