An Aviation Expert, Capt Victor Kwesi Amoah, has called on the government to invest in the construction and development of state-of-the-art airports across the country to help transform the economy.

Instead of venturing into an airline business, he said the government should rather channel its resources into the construction of modern airports across the 16 regions in the country.

That, he said, would be a significant step to double the country’s economy through increase in revenue generation, job creation and increase in tourism.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic on December 16 in Accra ahead of the Wright Brothers Day (global aviation day), celebrated annually to mark the take-off of the first aircraft in December 17, 1903, Capt Amoah said airports was a game changer to transform the country’s economy.

“Let’s construct a very well setup airport in every region in Ghana and the economy will boom twice as it is doing today.

“This will make the economy bigger and better because airports are not only used to facilitate commercial passenger flights but also for charter flight business,” he said.

Reconsider national carrier

Capt Amoah said the government should reconsider its decision to establish a national carrier and rather invest in airports to generate more revenue to support the economy.

He said an airport in every region in Ghana would serve as a great enabler for growth in passenger numbers for airlines, extra taxes for the government and increased tourists which will positively impact the local economy.

With airports across the 16 regions, he said Ghana would stands tall among its African peers when it comes to countries with modern airports.

“From the national perspective, that is a sense of pride as well as an avenue for revenue generation.”

He said he often get surprise when people criticise the sighting of airports at various places in the country without understanding the economic impact of the decision.

“Some people criticise that why is it that the government build an airport in Ho in the Volta Region and that it is only 60 miles from Accra but we forget that its not 60 miles from Temale in the Northern Region.

“Same criticism has also been thrown at the proposed airport in Central Region by this current government which I think it’s wrong,” he said.

To change the fortunes of the country’s aviation sector, Capt Amoah said the government should engage the services of only technocrats at the Ministry of Aviation (MoA) to help design and implement policies that will speed the progress of the sector.

Wright Brothers Day

Wright Brothers Day is a United States national observation and also celebrated worldwide to mark the birth of global aviation by stakeholders.

It is codified in the US Code and commemorates the first successful flights in a heavier-than-air mechanically propelled airplane, that were made by Orville and Wilbur Wright on December 17, 1903, near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Capt Amoah commended pioneers of the aviation industry as their contribution has led to the establishment of the only rapid worldwide transportation network, which makes it essential for global business.

It generates economic growth, creates jobs, and facilitates international trade and tourism.

“Today marks another milestone in the historical exploration of global aviation, which is worth acknowledging as it marks its 117th birthday.

“The success of the historical evolution in the aviation industry could be attributed to the aero daredevils who through uncalculated risks, fine-tuned experiments to make aviation what it is today,” he said.

He added that a number of events and programmes would be held next year to celebrate the contribution of Ghanaian pioneers of the aviation industry.