Ghana to host Africa's first aviation exhibition

Ghana would play host to Africa’s first ever Air Expo, bringing together about 200 international exhibitors from the aviation industry across the world.

The air expo, which would run from October 12 to October 14, 2016, would be held under the auspices of the Ministry of Transport.

It would also be used to send messages to the world that Africa and indeed Ghana is the obvious choice for the future of global aviation.

Speaking at the launch Mrs Dzifa Attivor, Minister of Transport, said the air expo would bring together the major players covering a wide profile in the realm of African aviation, including airport companies, airlines, regulators, airport management agencies to ground handling agencies.

“Ghana enjoys a stable political climate on the African continent and our objective is to create this awareness within the African and global aviation that an investment in the Ghanaian aviation sector will be mutually beneficial to both Ghana and investors,” she said.

She said the African Air Expo 2016 would create an opportunity for the public and private sectors to collaborate on critical issues facing African aviation.

She said the expo would provide Government with deeper insight into the road map for African Aviation and how Africa could strategically position itself within the aviation roadmap.

Mrs Attivor said the expo would also allow Ghana to focus on critical areas within the aviation industry such as upgrading of airports infrastructure to meet the demands of the aviation industry on the continent.

Mr Ademola Oluseyi Onafowokan, Nigerian High Commissioner, congratulated Government for the initiative, adding that the programme would become one of the best achievements of President John Dramani Mahama.

He appealed to corporate institutions both local and international to assist Government to ensure the success of the programme.

Dr Mobeen Motara, Executive Director, Eyes Aviation, Group, Dubai, noted that the time has come for Africa to show the world its capabilities as far as the aviation sector was concerned.

He cited Dubai Air Expo, Air Expo Lyon, and Air Expo Cannes all in France as some of the programmes, which seeks to show the world aviation prowess of the countries, which organises them.