*Parliament Adopts Report on Air Services Agreement, Backs Push to Make Ghana West Africa’s Aviation Gateway* 

Parliament has adopted the Report of the Committee on Roads and Transport on the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between the Government of Ghana, represented by the Ministry of Transport, and the Government of the Republic of Benin for the establishment of air services.

Moving the motion, Majority Leader Hon. Mahama Ayariga urged the House to approve the agreement, noting that it signals growing global confidence in Ghana’s aviation sector.

He was particularly impressed by Ghana’s move to enter into a similar agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. “Every year we send several thousands of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. This has been going on for a very long time, so it is time that we have a direct air travel agreement with them to open up our skies and make it easily accessible for airlines from both countries,” he said.

Hon. Ayariga added that the number of bilateral agreements before Parliament shows that “Ghana is indeed becoming the gateway to West Africa,” with many countries seeking direct flights to Accra for onward connections across the continent.

“Mr. Speaker, the Minister is doing a good job bringing all those agreements to us so that we can open up our skies, make our country easily accessible by airlines, increase the volumes that pass through our airport, and also increase earnings to our economy from the use of our airport,” he stated.

He concluded by adopting all contributions from his colleagues and urged Members to vote in favour of the report and the agreements.

Report by PKB