Ghana’s introduction of a 24-hour economy policy is attracting a growing wave of Nigerian investments across key sectors of the economy, the Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ambassador Adedayo Adeoyo, has said.
He explained that the trend was driven by favourable policies being implemented by the Ghanaian government to attract investments into sectors such as aviation, banking and energy.
He stressed that the surge in Nigerian enterprises—including a recently established $15 million Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) facility, the entry of four Nigerian airlines into the Ghanaian market, and increased investment in the banking sector—reflects growing investor confidence in Ghana’s economic direction.
Speaking to the media at the inaugural flight of ValueJet Airlines at the Accra International Airport (AIA) last Monday, Mr Adeoyo stated that the policy environment in Ghana continues to position the country as an attractive destination for regional investors.
“This is the singular reason why a lot of Nigerian businesses are springing up in Ghana, as the government has created a very conducive environment for businesses to thrive.
“You recollect when President John Mahama came in. He introduced the 24-hour economy. You can see that these are the benefits of the 24-hour economy. A lot of Nigerian businesses are coming in here, not only in the aviation sector, but also in the banking and even gas sector,” he said.
A Nigerian-owned carrier, ValueJet Airline, on Monday (March 30), completed its inaugural flight from Lagos to the Accra International Airport as part of plans to expand operations within the West African sub-region.
The flight, piloted by a Ghanaian, which touched down in Accra at 9:25 a.m. local time, marked the airline’s entry into the competitive Accra–Lagos route.
With the addition of ValueJet, the number of airlines operating on the busy corridor has increased to six, four of which are Nigerian-owned.
The airline will operate three flights a week departing from Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 8:00 a.m., with return services from Accra at 9:00 a.m., following earlier regional expansion to destinations such as Banjul, Cotonou and Malabo.
The inaugural flight was attended by the Director-General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Rev. Stephen Wilfred Arthur; Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Tourism Development Company Ltd, Prof. Kobby Mensah; Group Executive (Finance) of Ghana Airport Company Limited, Rev. Dr John Okwesie Arthur; CEO of ValueJet Airlines, Capt Omololu Majekodunmi; Chairman of ValueJet Airlines, Kunle Soname, and other officials from both countries.
Seamless connectivity
Capt Majekodunmi stated that the airline aims to strengthen ties between Nigeria and Ghana, the region’s only two English-speaking countries, by providing seamless connectivity and creating employment opportunities on both sides.
He said ValueJet envisions forming an African airline alliance, similar to global carriers like Lufthansa and KLM, to allow passengers to book tickets across multiple African destinations on a single airline network.
“We are looking to establish a ValueJet presence in Accra and eventually expand to other regional hubs, providing direct flights and better connectivity for passengers across West Africa.
“This alliance will be a game changer for the sub-region, fostering stronger collaboration between African airlines and boosting economic opportunities for all participating countries,” he said.
Govt committed
Rev. Arthur, who represented the Minister of Transport, expressed the government’s commitment to channel investments into the country’s aviation infrastructure to meet growing demands.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh