Ghana gov’t will own minority stake in new national airline – Transport Minister tells Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

The Minister of Transport, Mr Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has stated that the government's plan to revive a national airline in Ghana is not intended to result in a controlling shareholding.

Rather, the airline will operate largely under private-sector management. Mr Nikpe made this statement when he appeared before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.

He clarified that the proposed airline's structure is designed to allow the government to hold a minority stake, rather than dictate its operations.

This remark was made in response to concerns raised by the Chairman of the PAC regarding the operational difficulties experienced by the defunct Ghana Airways.

The minister also revealed that the government is currently engaging with American aircraft manufacturer Boeing on plans to establish the new national airline.

Mr Nikpe appeared before the committee alongside senior officials from the Ministry of Transport and the Ghana Airports Company Limited to address findings from a special audit ordered by the Ministry of Finance.

Task force meeting

Mr Nikpe confirmed that the Chairman of the government’s national airline task force and Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States had met executives of Boeing as part of efforts to revive a national carrier.

“I wouldn’t want to disclose much, but it is part of the activities of the task force in trying to get us to re-establish the national carrier,” he told the committee.

Mr Nikpe clarified that the proposed airline is different from what Air Ghana, a privately owned cargo transport company is introducing.

“Air Ghana is a cargo transport system. It is individual ownership,” he said.

“Government is happy working with them to improve cargo transport services. They are a private entity,” he added.

Audit issues

The hearing also dealt with matters arising from a special audit into the activities of the Ministry of Transport.

The committee examined rejected payments linked to the construction of the Takoradi to Manso railway line and consultancy services related to the project.

Officials explained that about GH¢27 million of the rejected amount related to payments made to the supervising consultant.

According to the officials, the consultant provided auditors with a lower outstanding liability figure as of December 31, 2024, because part of the payment had already been processed in January 2025.

Another GH¢1.6 million from the former Ministry of Railways was rejected because of incomplete documentation.

Officials said a procurement officer with an eye condition could not attend the audit process, while some supporting documents, including stores received advice notes, were missing from the records.

Poor records

A member of the committee criticised the poor record-keeping practices.

“Most of the reasons why we have a huge rejection rate is because we failed to keep proper records,” she said.

“When we put in the reports that huge sums have been rejected, it doesn’t speak well of us as a nation. It tells the whole world that we are not able to manage our documentation properly,” she added.

Mr Nikpe admitted weaknesses in record management and said measures had been introduced to improve reporting systems and staff training.

“You can’t account when you don’t have records,” he said.

The committee also raised concerns about the continued use of COVID-19 health screening queues at the arrival hall of Terminal 3 at the Accra International Airport.

Mr Nikpe said he would engage the Minister of Health on the matter because Port Health services fall under that ministry.