Ghana’s ambition to establish Accra as a leading aviation hub in West Africa received another boost after the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) won two awards at the 8th Airports Council International (ACI) World Airport Experience Summit in Istanbul, Turkey.
Accra International Airport was named Best Airport at Departures in Africa in the two- to five-million-passenger category and also received Customer Experience Accreditation at Level 1.
The recognition renews attention on Ghana’s efforts to improve the passenger experience as the country invests in expanding airport infrastructure and positioning Accra as a more competitive gateway for regional and international travel.
Receiving the awards, GACL Managing Director, Mrs Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, described the recognition as a collective achievement involving staff and stakeholders across the airport ecosystem.
“These awards could not have been won working independently. It is a result of teamwork and collaboration across multiple stakeholders in the airport ecosystem,” she said, adding that the recognition should serve as a reminder to continue raising standards.
The awards come as Ghana pursues major infrastructure projects at Accra International Airport, including the expansion and refurbishment of terminal facilities, a connecting concourse between Terminals 2 and 3, and new parking, hotel and commercial developments.
Aviation expert Sean Mendes believes infrastructure and passenger experience are only part of the equation. While improved facilities can provide airlines with the capacity to expand their operations, he has argued that Ghana must also ensure that the cost of using its aviation infrastructure does not discourage passengers.
Mendes has raised concerns about the growing tax and charge burden on air travel in Ghana, warning that high costs could limit passenger growth even as the country expands airport capacity.
The challenge for Ghana, therefore, is to build on improvements in service quality while ensuring that increased investment does not translate into an airport experience that becomes unaffordable for a significant number of travellers.
Accra International Airport’s latest recognition demonstrates progress in Ghana’s efforts to improve the passenger journey and align its aviation facilities with international standards. Sustaining that progress, however, will require a balance between quality infrastructure, efficient operations and competitive costs.
