The cost of flying within Ghana has become unbearable. What used to be a convenient alternative for the ordinary traveller has now become a luxury.

Just a few years ago, a one-way ticket from Accra to Kumasi was selling for GH¢449. Even last year, a round trip from Accra to Kumasi and back to Accra was GH¢1,500. Today, the same route goes for GH¢4,700 and sometimes over GH¢5,000. Travellers are questioning how a 45-minute flight can cost more than flying to Abidjan.

The airlines blame fuel costs and the cedi, but the truth is simple: Ghana’s domestic skies are controlled by only two airlines—Africa World Airlines (AWA) and PassionAir. It is a classic duopoly.

Government levy made it worse

Since April 1, 2026, the government has introduced the Airport Infrastructure Development Charge (AIDC) of GH¢100 one-way on all domestic tickets. Both AWA and PassionAir passed it directly on to passengers. While the government says it is for airport upgrades, passengers are the ones bleeding.

Why this duopoly is dangerous

The Managing Director of Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) herself has admitted it. She told Parliament that the high cost is due to the duopoly of domestic airlines, currently limited to PassionAir and Africa World Airlines.

And what happens when people cannot afford to fly? They are forced onto our roads. Roads that are death traps—from the Accra-Kumasi Highway to the Accra-Takoradi stretch. Ghanaians are avoiding road travel because of accidents and bad roads, and these two airlines know it. They are taking advantage of that fear to keep prices high.

The solution: Break the monopoly

We cannot continue like this. The Ministry of Transport and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) must, as a matter of urgency, license more domestic airlines.

GACL has already said it is working to attract more carriers because competition will force prices down. GCAA has also confirmed that at least two new local operators are at an advanced stage of approval.

That process must be fast-tracked.

Ghana has over 30 million people, with busy commercial routes to Kumasi, Tamale, Takoradi and Sunyani. Two airlines cannot serve a whole nation. We need at least four or five domestic carriers competing on price, service and safety.

Until we break this duopoly, Ghanaian travellers will continue to pay the price—literally—for the failure to open up our skies.