Gov’t in talks with private airlines to operationalize Ho airport – Letsa

The Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa, has indicated that the government is already in talks with private airline operators to make the Ho airport operational.

“The airport is ready but there are a few things that need to be done…For the flight, the private airlines are being talked to. We are hoping that on the national airline, government will be able to strike an agreement with Ethiopian Airlines,” he said in an interview on Wednesday.

He said a team of foreign airline experts has also visited the site to identify the possibility of building a flight training institution and other adjoining training platforms to make the airport a fully-functional one.

Dr. Letsa is optimistic that the coming on board of these entities and the discussions that have been held with local authorities show a clear commitment that the facility will no sooner than later serve the purpose for which it was constructed.

“We have had contact from companies in South Africa and other parts of the world which are exploring the possibility of establishing a flight training school or an aircraft maintenance centre and other things that have to do with the airport. About three weeks ago, we had a team of about four pilots and other aviation experts who were in town for two days to explore the possibility of establishing a flight training school. They were quite positive. They came up with certain things we have to put in place together with the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Ghana Airport Company Limited and the Aviation Minister”, Dr. Letsa said

Many continue to cast doubt on the functionality of the Ho airport, a year after the government announced that the facility was ready for use given its completion by contractors.

The Volta Regional Minister reiterated that plans such as Ghana’s agreement with Ethiopian Airlines as the national carrier and other private airlines were on course.

He added that the private investors were satisfied with the level of work done and are prepared to assist the country in obtaining the remaining infrastructure.

“The government policy as I am aware of is that we will have airports in all the regions in the country. The Volta and Wa airports are ready and I think that the national airport that will take off will, by all means, ply this route,” he added.