Welcome To African Travel & Tourism News 22/01/2025.
The Headlines
McDan Aviation Resumes Operations at KIA Terminal After Debt Agreement
Ghana Tourism Authority CEO Akwasi Agyeman Resigns After Transformative Tenure
New International Routes Boost Ethiopian Airlines’ Reach in 2024
Akwasi Agyeman, the CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), has officially resigned, concluding a transformative tenure that saw significant growth in the tourism sector. Appointed in January 2017,
Mr. Agyeman navigated challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and led a robust recovery for Ghana’s tourism industry.
International tourist arrivals under his leadership surged from 355,108 in 2020 to an impressive 1,148,002 in 2023, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. Domestic tourism also flourished, with visitor numbers rising from 456,000 in 2017 to 1.4 million in 2023.
His tenure was marked by the rehabilitation of key tourist attractions, such as Kintampo Waterfalls, Kwahu Paragliding Site, Bunso Eco Park, and Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm, as well as historical landmarks like Nationalism Park and Bonwire Kente Museum. Innovative marketing campaigns, including The Year of Return and December in Ghana, positioned Ghana as a prime global tourist destination.
Mr. Agyeman championed digital transformation through projects like the National Tourism Destination Single Window and the “Visit Ghana” App, which streamlined tourism services.
He also prioritized capacity building, training over 3,000 individuals in customer service and tourism product development under the Ghana CARES Obaatanpa Initiative.
As he steps down, leadership transitions to Otto Langmane, Acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, and Ekow Sampson, Deputy CEO in charge of Operations.
Mr. Agyeman’s resignation closes a pivotal chapter for the GTA, with hopes that the new leadership will sustain the momentum and further advance Ghana’s tourism agenda.
McDan Aviation has resumed Fixed Base Operator (FBO) services at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) Terminal 1 after reaching a payment agreement with the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) to clear its arrears. Operations were halted in December 2024 due to McDan’s outstanding debt of over $3.9 million, which had been accumulating since 2020.
Although McDan paid GH¢2 million during the shutdown, GACL initially demanded full payment before reopening. Following the agreement, McDan’s security personnel and vehicles have returned to Terminal 1, signaling the resumption of services.
Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier, plans passenger flights to 138 destinations from its Addis Ababa hub in 2025. Recent international additions include Freetown, Maun, Warsaw, Port Sudan, Dhaka, and Monrovia, launched in 2024.
With the announcement of its fifth Indian route to Hyderabad, Ethiopian Airlines will serve 19 destinations in Asia (excluding the Middle East). Flights to Hyderabad, the city’s first direct connection to Africa, will begin on June 16, 2025, operating three times weekly using a Boeing 737 MAX 8. This route will be Ethiopian’s fifth-longest non-stop narrowbody flight.
Source : African Travel & Tourism News -Joyceln Marigold
