Transport Minister, Dzifa Attivor has urged the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to intensify efforts to regain the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards to enable airlines fly directly from Ghana to the United States of America.

She said the government was working hard to strengthen the aviation industry and to establish a national carrier through Public Private Partnership (PPP) but noted that challenges that had to be addressed included the regaining of the FAA Category 1 status, which would allow aircrafts from Ghana to fly into the United States.

“Government has promised to bring back a carrier with PPP and is working hard on that. The “Black Star” must go back in the sky and nothing can stop the dream,” she stated.

The minister was speaking during a visit to the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) on Wednesday accompanied by her Deputy, Mrs Joyce Bawa Mogtari.

Mrs Attivor noted that the government had identified the infrastructure deficit in the aviation industry and was taking appropriate measures to address it.

These included the refurbishment of the terminal at the KIA, an intended extension on the runway of the Kumasi Airport, upgrading the Tamale Airport into an alternative international one as well as plans to construct airports in all the regions.

Air Commodore Kwame Mamphey (Retired), Director General of the GCAA, who welcomed the minister and her deputy, lauded government’s liberalization policy in the aviation sector, saying Ghana was reaping tremendous benefits from it such as an increase in passengers locally as well as an increase in the number of international airlines operating in Ghana.

He said several other international and Ghanaian airlines were either going through certifications or almost ready to commence operations in Ghana.

These included the Middle East Airlines, Afriqiyah, Eagle Atlantic, Pysson, and Sika Airlines.