As President John Dramani Mahama makes a move to establish a national airline, aviation analyst Sean Mendis has issued a strong and timely call for the authorities to prioritize commercial viability over political sentiments.
This admonition from Sean Mendis comes after President Mahama inaugurated a new 10-member National Taskforce to oversee the establishment of the airline.
Sean Mendis has earlier told The High Street Journal that the idea of a new airline for Ghana is very questionable, considering factors that led to the collapse of the old airline, the cost involved, and its sustainability given the fierce competition in the industry.
In a latest interaction with The High Street Journal following the launch of the taskforce, he acknowledged the knowledge and skill set of the members of the taskforce, describing them as highly “qualified and competent.”
However, he fears the tendency for the taskforce to analyse the issues on political lines, neglecting the real business and commercial issues, hence the advice.
“The reality is that it is a team of very qualified and competent people. One can only hope they examine the issue from a commercial standpoint rather than are driven by political necessities,” he indicated.
This call widely resonates within aviation, business, and policy circles, especially as Ghana seeks to avoid the mistakes of previous failed attempts at launching a flag carrier.
Analysts say past efforts, though ambitious, were often plagued by political interference, lack of financial discipline, and poor corporate governance that undermined the feasibility.
Mendis, who has years of experience in the aviation industry across Africa and Asia, is cautioning that the success of this new national carrier will depend not on national pride alone, but on its business model, funding structure, and independence from partisan influence.
