As part of its ongoing focus and expansion into emerging markets, Airports Company South Africa has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ghana Airports Company Limited to provide advisory and technical consultancy services on all airport-related matters in Ghana.

The historic agreement with GACL comes in the wake of similar groundbreaking partnerships between Airports Company South Africa and GVK for the management of Mumbai International Airport in India, and with Invepar at Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo, Brazil.

Our partnership with the Ghana Airports Company Limited as captured in the MOU commits us to work together more closely in technical, operational, commercial and strategic business development aspects of the aviation industry with the object to provide excellent facilitation and commercial airport services for all stakeholders.

GACL has the responsibility for planning, developing, managing and maintaining Ghana’s airports. This includes Kotoka International Airport in the country’s capital, Accra, three regional airports and other airfields.  Air traffic has been experiencing phenomenal growth in recent years, with domestic traffic growing by over 30 percent per annum and international passengers by around ten percent.

The well-defined South African government strategy of driving business co-operation across the African continent has been ably supported by the Department of Transport in conjunction with Airports Company South Africa in this instance.

“Today’s announcement is a positive and exciting demonstration of a well-founded belief in the depth, wealth of experience and expert skills that Airports Company South Africa has accumulated over the twenty years of its existence. It is equally pleasing that Ghana has recognised and acknowledged South Africa’s pre-eminence in the development and management of world-class airports by entering into an agreement for us to provide multi-dimensional assistance for their aggressive airport expansion programme,” said Honourable Ms Dipuo Peters, South Africa’s Minister of Transport.

According to the Honourable Mrs Dzifa Aku Attivor, Ghana’s Minister of Transport, Ghana’s burgeoning economy has put enormous pressure on the country’s airports, especially that of Kotoka in Accra. The upgrade of facilities is essential and this will include the building of a new terminal.

“We did not have to look far for a highly recommended partner to provide us with advisory services. Showcasing Africa’s abilities through the enormously successful airports expansion and management programme for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ was recommendation enough for Airports Company South Africa,” explained Honourable Mrs Dzifa Aku Attivor.

The MoU between Ghana and South Africa provides a positive example of a catalytic partnership between two diverse nations to provide the required infrastructure to boost the continent’s growth.

Bongani Maseko, CEO of Airports Company South Africa, said, “As a company, we pride ourselves in the ability to compete in international markets through our involvement in some of the BRICS markets and hence we will strive to ensure that the region can provide airport facilities and services to compete with any in the world. The focus on Africa remains critical to our business in order that the continent earns its deserved place as a meaningful contender in the global economy.”

Mr Charles Asare, CEO of Ghana Airports Company Limited said “This MOU opens business opportunities for co-operation in infrastructure development, ground handling operations, retail and property management development among others for our entrepreneurs and businessmen and women to pursue”