Air Travel in Ghana: Addressing the High Cost of Airfares
Ghana has been facing issues with high air travel costs, with recent attention being given to the new Airport Infrastructure Development Charge (AIDC) that took effect on April 1, 2026. However, a deeper look into the country’s aviation market reveals that limited competition, the lack of a national carrier, and structural inefficiencies are also major factors contributing to high airfares, both on domestic and international routes.
Domestic flights within Ghana, particularly between the two largest cities of Accra and Kumasi, can cost over 3,000 Ghana cedis for a round trip. This is comparable to the cost of flying between cities in Asia, despite the difference in distance. The reason for this is the lack of competition in the domestic market, with only a small number of active airlines operating. This lack of competition leads to higher prices for consumers.
On international routes, the absence of a Ghanaian flag carrier with a strong network also contributes to high airfares. Most long-haul flights from Accra are operated by foreign carriers, such as Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and Air France. These airlines typically operate hub-and-spoke models, routing passengers through hubs in Addis Ababa, Dubai, Amsterdam, or Paris before reaching their final destination. This adds operational costs that are passed on to passengers, making flights more expensive.
Kevin Wise Kwame Anyomi, Chief Executive Officer of Kels Travels and Tours, highlights that the base fare for international flights may be relatively modest, but additional charges such as taxes, service fees, and operational costs significantly increase the total ticket price. For example, a flight from Accra to New York with a base fare of 669 dollars can end up costing over 1,300 dollars after all charges are applied.
The Board of Airline Representatives Ghana (BARGH) has expressed concern about the current charge structure, warning that it could make Ghana one of the top ten most expensive countries globally for passenger charges and the third most expensive in Africa, behind only Gabon and Sierra Leone. This could potentially discourage airlines from investing in new routes to Ghana.
In December 2025, the Economic Community of West African States called for a 25% reduction in regional passenger charges by 2026 to stimulate air traffic growth. However, implementation across member states has been incomplete. In contrast, Ghana has introduced new fees in 2026, moving in the opposite direction.
The impact of high airfares extends beyond the travel sector, affecting trade, investment, and tourism. When flights are expensive, it becomes more costly for businesses to conduct trade missions, for investors to visit the country, and for tourists to travel to Ghana. This can result in Ghana losing out to regional competitors.