Africa-Press – Ghana. The Board of Airline Representatives Ghana (BARGH) has cautioned that rising passenger taxes and charges could undermine Ghana’s aviation growth and regional competitiveness.
It said Ghana risked losing its consolidated position as the gateway to West Africa in the aviation sector if excessive levies were not curtailed.
Madam Stellamarie Ndunge Akhwale, a Representative of BARGH, gave the caution at the AviationGhana Fifth Breakfast Meeting 2026, held in Accra.
The meeting was on the theme: “Advancing Ghana’s Aviation Sector: Policy, Connectivity, and Sustainable Growth.”
Madam Akhwale said Ghana had consolidated its role as a key gateway through resilient airline operations and supportive government policies and could not afford to lose that edge.
She commended member airlines for their contribution to the economy and welcomed new operators expanding connectivity, citing the one-year operations of Ibom Air on the Lagos–Accra route, as well as the entry of United Nigeria Airlines and Air Tanzania.
She also acknowledged increased frequencies by Turkish Airlines and Delta Air Lines, which she said had strengthened Ghana’s global connectivity.
Madam Akhwale expressed concern about new charges, including an 18-dollar Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record (API/PNR) fee introduced on February 1, 2026, and a proposed 100-dollar Airport Infrastructure Development Charge (AIDC) scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2026.
She said the charges would raise total international passenger fees to 173 dollars for a one-way ticket and 243 dollars for a return ticket, placing Ghana among the 10 most expensive countries globally for passenger charges and the third highest in Africa.
Madam Akhwale noted that the increases were contrary to the December 2025 directive by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which called for a 25 per cent reduction in regional passenger charges by 2026 to stimulate air traffic growth.
Citing findings from a 2024 study by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), she said high taxes and charges remained the biggest deterrent to regional connectivity, passenger growth and airline sustainability in Africa.
She said excessive levies could lead to revenue leakage as passengers opted for neighbouring hubs such as Lomé and Abidjan, reduce visiting-friends-and-family travel and negatively affect tourism due to Ghana’s competitive disadvantage.
The Board proposed a hybrid revenue model, combining a lower AIDC with alternative non-aeronautical revenue streams, including modest airport drop-off fees, which could generate about 33 million dollars annually while supporting passenger growth.
Madam Akhwale called for collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that Ghana remained accessible, competitive and attractive for tourism and trade.
