Taxify CEO and Founder Markus Villig
Ghana and Mexico have started discussions that could see airlines offer direct flights between the two countries.
Mexico’s Ambassador to Ghana, Maria de los Angeles Arriola Aguirre, met Aviation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, on Wednesday, May 30, in Accra to discuss plans by the Mexican government to launch its first direct flight to Africa.
The envoy indicated that a direct flight between Mexico and Ghana, and for that matter Africa, would not only ease the burden of travelers but help boost trade to create jobs.
She disclosed that Mexico was constructing an airport at the cost of $14 billion which is expected to be completed by 2021 to receive about 95 million air passengers annually.
She said that the Mexican government has realized that a direct flight to Africa would help it achieve the 95 million per annum target.
Touching on why the country chose Ghana, the envoy explained that the West African country has over the years attracted investments.
According to her, “Mexico is a country that is growing very fast. Mexico has in the last six to seven years been able to record positive growth in its economy, and this has been reflected in many sectors.”
She said, “One of the sectors that Mexico is growing very fast is tourism. As I mentioned in 2012, Mexico was among the 15 main tourist destinations in the world and last year, we came close to being the sixth best tourist destination in the world, with 39 million visitors from all over the world.”
Air travelers from Ghana and the rest of Africa to and from Mexico currently have to transit in Europe or Brazil in South Africa.
Ms Dapaah, on her part, said the move by the Mexican government was in the right direction, saying “I believe this bilateral collaboration is in the right direction.”
She told the envoy that President Akufo-Addo’s vision is to open up Ghana for investment and trade with the rest of the world.
She explained that new terminals are being constructed at the various airports in Ghana, and that steps were being taken to build airstrips and helipads in some areas.
Air travel is expected to quadruple, and it’s important for both Mexico and Ghana to put in place the necessary infrastructure, according to her.
By Melvin Tarlue