Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe has welcomed the arrival of Uganda Airlines in Ghana, describing the new service as a boost to the country’s aviation sector and an opportunity to strengthen trade, tourism and business ties between West and East Africa.
The Ugandan national carrier began operations at Accra International Airport on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, with four flights a week connecting Entebbe, Lagos and Accra.
Speaking at the inaugural flight ceremony, Mr Nikpe reaffirmed the government’s commitment to investing in aviation infrastructure to position Ghana as a preferred destination for international travel.
Managing Director of Ghana Airports Company Limited, Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, said the airline’s entry into the Ghanaian market reflected the country’s growing appeal to aviation investors.
She said the new service would expand travel options while improving connectivity, promoting tourism and cultural exchange, facilitating trade and strengthening economic cooperation between Ghana and Uganda.
Chief Executive of Uganda Airlines, Girma Wake, also said the Accra route would improve air connectivity between West and East Africa, making travel between the two regions more accessible.
The service will operate through Lagos rather than offer direct, non-stop flights between Entebbe and Accra. Uganda Airlines will use a Boeing 737-800 wet-leased from Ethiopian Airlines, with the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance provided under the lease arrangement.
The new route gives passengers another option for travelling between Ghana and Uganda, where existing connections often involve transit stops in Nairobi or Addis Ababa. Its entry into the market could also increase competition among airlines serving the two regions.
Limited air connectivity has remained a challenge to Africa’s economic integration, with travellers often relying on indirect routes to move between countries. The expansion of regional air services is expected to make business travel easier and create opportunities for stronger commercial partnerships.
For Uganda Airlines, the Accra service forms part of its wider effort to expand its African network and strengthen Entebbe’s role as a hub connecting markets across the continent and beyond.
