The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has licensed two private airlines, Sobel Airlines and C.P.K Airlines, to begin domestic operations in Ghana.

The airlines, which are joint ventures between Ghanaians and foreigners, will fill the vacuum created by the suspension of air-link flights after the crash of one of its aircraft early this year. The Director General of the GCAA, Wing Commander Andy Mensah, revealed this after leading a three-member team on a site inspection and assessment flight to the Wa airstrip and the Kumasi airport.

He said the Ministry of Roads and Transport is negotiating with donor countries to finance the rehabilitation of the domestic terminals at Kumasi and airstrips at Tamale, Bolgatanga and Ho. According to him, with tourism now the third foreign exchange earner there is the need to put in place the necessary infrastructure to sustain the growth of the aviation industry. He added that 55 per cent of GCAA passengers are tourists, bringing in about half of the Authority's revenue. There is therefore the need for such regular domestic flights to all corners of the country.

Wing Commander Andy Mensah said the Wa airstrip rehabilitation project, which began 18 months ago involving the extension and resurfacing of the runway, has now been completed and that the Ministry is currently negotiating with donor countries to finance the rehabilitation of the domestic terminals at Kumasi and airstrips at Tamale, Bolga and Ho.