Government is exploring the possibility of collaborating with a key player in the Chinese aviation sector to establish a direct flight from Accra to Guangzhou, China.

The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, made the revelation in an interview with B&FT following his recent visit to the Asian country.

It is anticipated that the direct flight between Accra and Guangzhou will facilitate trade and travel, as well as promote deeper economic relations between the two countries.

During the visit by the Finance Minister, talks on fostering better bilateral ties and looking into opportunities for collaboration in a number of industries, including aviation, took place. The Ministry of Transport and Ghana’s Embassy in Beijing are jointly leading the aviation talks.

“We will be collaborating with a major player in China’s aviation industry to explore the provision of aviation services for the West African Region via a direct flight from Accra to Guangzhou to facilitate mobility and commerce between Ghana, the broader West African region, and China,” Ken Ofori-Atta told the B&FT.

This type of partnership fits in with Ghana’s larger economic plan, which aims to use alliances with significant foreign entities to promote economic expansion and advancement.

The launch of direct flights between Accra and Guangzhou is expected to open up new commerce, investment, and tourism avenues, enhancing Ghana’s standing as a key regional centre within the West African Sub-region.

Securing funding for Ghana’s economic recovery initiatives and finalising the external bilateral and commercial debt treatment under the G20 common framework were among the main targets he mentioned.

Mr Ofori-Atta underscored the significance of Ghana and China developing a strong and long-lasting partnership.

The Minister, who led the government’s delegation to China on bilateral talks, expressed appreciation for China’s vital assistance in enabling Ghana to interact with international financial institutions, pointing out in particular China’s leadership position as co-chair of the Official Creditor Committee (OCC) with France.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ghana and the OCC is a crucial next stage in Ghana’s debt treatment process, and he expressed gratitude for China’s willingness to complete it quickly.

To further encourage foreign direct investment (FDI) into Ghana, Minister Ofori-Atta emphasised the value of interacting with Chinese companies.

He emphasised the productive talks that took place during the visit, with particular attention paid to technology, aviation services, renewable energy initiatives, infrastructure development, and industrial expansion.

Touching on the economic outlook for the country in 2024, the Finance Minister is optimistic about significant growth in the Ghanaian economy.

He cited improvements in indicators such as declining inflation, stable currency performance, and increased growth projections to support his point.

Mr Ofori-Atta reaffirmed the government’s resolve to carry out growth plans and budgetary changes that are intended to boost the economy.