The several years of non-commercial flight operations in the Upper West Region ended on October 15, 2019, with the commencement of the first commercial flight from Wa.
The Deputy Minister for Aviation, Yaw Afful who joined a number of excited dignitaries from Upper West at the Wa Airport to witness the start of commercial flight to and the Region commended Africa World Airlines (AWA) for taking a bold step in leading the way to start flight operations to serve the people of Upper West.
GBCs correspondent Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo reports that the inaugural flight took off at 2.10pm.
Mr. Afful indicated the inception of business flight from Wa is part of governments efforts and commitment to improve air transport connectivity between Accra and other Regional capitals across the country and commented on the delay in starting flight business in Wa.
He observed that: “The seeming delay in starting flight operation to Wa was to make sure that all requirements of commercial airport were met, including the installation of air navigation systems, determining the appropriateness of the runway Pavement Classification Number, (PCN), for flight to take-off and land safely, rehabilitating of the terminal building to provide comfort for passengers and airlines and host of other ancillary facilities and equipment including fire tenders.
“I am happy to note that all these requirements have been met and we are comfortable that commercial aircraft can now operate at the Wa Regional Airport safely,” Mr. Afful added.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih commended Ghana Airports Company Limited and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and their partners for their collaboration and support to actualize the operation of Commercial flight from Wa.
Dr. Bin Salih touched on the benefits the Region will derive from the initiative, saying the commencement of commercial flights to and from Wa Airport is meant to provide efficient and reliable service to boost economic activities in the Upper West Region and beyond.
He was also of the view that the start of commercial flights to the Wa Airport will go a long way to expand and strengthen the existing relationship between Upper West and its neighboring countries.
The Head of Commercial, Africa World Airlines, Richard Kyere observed that very soon they will start a daily flight to Wa and made some requests to the Aviation Minister.
He noted: “We have two critical issues that we have to appeal to the honorable Minister of Aviation. And our first issue is the airport extension hours in Tamale. We believe that the closing hours in Tamale should be extended for us in order for us to operate more flights into Tamale…Again, in the spirit of single African Air Transport Market, we believe that it is key and reciprocity is at stake, we have requested for operating permit to operate within the corridors of Cote dIvoire for almost a year now, and we are taking this platform to encourage the Minister to step in for us.”
Mr. Kyereh assured the people of Wa that Africa World Airlines will continue to serve them with a safe and reliable air transport within the Upper West Region.
The President of the Upper Regional House of Chiefs, Kuoru Richard Babini Kanton urged the public to patronize the flight to make economic sense for the operators to continue ply the Wa route.
Story by Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo
