The Transport Ministry has defended  governments decision to establish a new airline in Ghana, in the face of stiff opposition from a section of Ghanaians .

Government, some months ago, invited bids from  prospective airline partners to submit interests to establish the new airline, something that has been heavily criticized by industry stakeholders and CSOs like IMANI Ghana.

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Referring to an earlier study conducted by IMANI on this issue, Franklin Cudjoe questioned the profitability of such a venture.

“What’s the point…what is this national airline craze about…is it that the prices will be reduced or we have better pilots or we can eat fufu and pounded yam on the plane? I don’t even get it. Most airlines are now doing code sharing because they are looking at the profitability of the routes…”

Responding to this, however, Chief Director of the Ministry of Transport, Twumasi Ankrah Selby disagrees with Franklin Cudjoe.

According to him, the quest to get a national airline adds up to government’s vision to make Ghana an aviation hub in the sub-region.

“We are pursuing a policy of creating KIA as a hub within the West African Sub region and to be able to develop a hub, you need a credible and reliable airline which will be able to support the hub just like in Dubai.”