Ghana has said it is seeking investors to help establish a new national airline, inviting “potential strategic partners” to engage with the government as it moves to revive a flag carrier more than two decades after Ghana Airways’ collapse.

In a statement, the transport ministry said it has begun a “market sounding” process to identify qualified airline operators and aviation investors, to select a strategic partner to build a commercially viable and internationally competitive national carrier.

The proposed airline would be based in Accra, positioning the capital as a regional and intercontinental hub for both passenger and cargo services, Reuters reported.

Under the plan, the government expects the strategic partner to hold a majority equity stake in a joint venture structure, signalling a shift toward private-sector leadership rather than full state control.

Officials said interested partners must already have operational airline experience, strong regulatory compliance records, and sufficient financial capacity to support fleet acquisition and route expansion.

The airline is expected to operate a full-service long-haul network covering Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia, alongside regional routes and an integrated cargo division.

While no official launch date was announced, the ministry said the carrier would be expected to begin acquiring or deploying aircraft in the short term, with initial operations targeted for no later than the first quarter of 2027.

Ghana has been without a functioning national airline since the collapse of Ghana Airways in 2004, following years of financial difficulties, failed restructuring efforts, and rising debt that left one of Africa’s major aviation markets without a state-backed flag carrier.