President Mahama and Boeing explore aviation partnership in New York
Ghana’s plans to restore a national airline have advanced following high-level discussions between President John Dramani Mahama and senior Boeing executives on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The meeting followed several months of engagement initiated by Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, and his team, including an earlier visit to Boeing and subsequent discussions aimed at developing a broader strategic partnership between Ghana and the aerospace company.
During the New York meeting, Mahama said Ghana was seeking a relationship with Boeing extending beyond the acquisition of aircraft.
“Ghana does not want its relationship with Boeing to be defined simply by the purchase of aircraft. We want a strategic partnership that helps us build an aviation ecosystem, creating skilled jobs, transferring technology, strengthening our industrial base and positioning Ghana as an aviation and logistics hub for West Africa.
“As we Reset Ghana, we are looking for partners prepared to invest with us, build capacity with us and share in the prosperity we create. Boeing can be one of those strategic partners.”
Discussions focused on a broader aviation partnership that could support the revival of Ghana’s national carrier while contributing to the development of infrastructure, skills and technical capacity.
Priority areas included national carrier and fleet development, with technical support and guidance towards returning Ghana’s national airline to service.
The parties also discussed the potential establishment of a regional maintenance, repair and overhaul hub
in Ghana to serve airlines operating across West Africa and the wider African continent.
Other areas under discussion included aviation training, skills development, technology transfer and the creation of high-value employment opportunities for young Ghanaians.
Boeing expressed its readiness to work closely with the Government of Ghana as the national carrier project progresses.
The company also indicated that, with the necessary structures and implementation arrangements in place, Ghana’s ambition to return a national airline to operation within approximately 18 months could be achievable.
The proposed partnership forms part of President Mahama’s broader Reset Ghana Agenda, which seeks to attract strategic international investment, create sustainable employment, build Ghanaian technical capacity and position the country as a competitive gateway for trade, aviation and logistics in West Africa.
The national airline project is being positioned as part of a wider aviation development programme intended to support employment, Ghanaian technical expertise, tourism, trade and regional connectivity.
