The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) and Africa World Airlines (AWA) officials, led by Mrs Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, Managing Director of GACL, have inspected potential locations at Ho Airport for the establishment of an Aviation Training Academy.
The initiative facilitated by Agbogbomefia of Asogli Togbe Afede XIV who is also the Chairman of Africa World Airlines, is intended to make the yet to be utilized Ho Airport, an aviation training hub.
The team explored sites for a hangar and facilities, discussing plans with stakeholders, including the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority.
The collaboration among other things, aims at helping to develop a pilot training academy, maintenance, repair and an overhaul facility.
The project also hopes to foster employment opportunities and economic growth in Ho and the surrounding towns.
In a brief remark, Togbe Afede emphasized the airport’s suitability for training and maintenance due to its serenity.
The project, expected to boost tourism and the aviation sector, is anticipated to commence construction within the year, pending necessary approvals, with collaborative benefits for institutions like Ho Technical University.
HISTORY
On 18 September 2015, then President John Dramani Mahama performed the groundbreaking ceremony for construction of the Ho Airport. Ghana Airports Company Limited funded the US$25 million project which was completed in 2017.
It covers 1,500 acres (610 ha), with a passenger terminal and a 1,900-metre (6,200 ft) runway.
Africa World Airlines e expressed interest in flying to Ho Airport after public concerns about the delay in operationalizing the facility.
In January 2021, Africa World Airlines announced that services will begin in April 2021 with two weekly services from Accra.
On 15 April 2021, Africa World Airlines made the first test flight to Ho Airport with an Embraer 145 jet aircraft. The flight was co-piloted by Togbe Afede XIV, who is also the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State.
Passion Air had an inaugural flight from the Kotoka International Airport in Accra to the Ho Airport on 1 December 2021.
The airline initially plans to fly to Ho twice a week. Flights were suspended in March 2022, citing low patronage and high fuel costs.
