AWA celebrates five-millionth passenger with Togbe Afede urging aviation-led economic transformation

Africa World Airlines (AWA) has marked a major achievement, celebrating its five-millionth domestic passenger at a ceremony held on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at the Kotoka International Airport.

The feat comes after 13 years of operations and has reignited calls for transportation to be placed at the centre of Africa’s economic development strategy.

Founder of AWA, Togbe Afede XIV, said Africa’s long-term growth prospects will remain limited unless transportation particularly aviation is prioritised as a strategic pillar.

He emphasised that although aviation is highly capital-intensive, its contribution to economic expansion, productivity and competitiveness far outweighs the cost.

“This is a very very important sector and very fundamental to our development as a country. The development of Sub-Saharan Africa can be summed up in one word ‘transportation’, he said.

Togbe Afede urged governments and private sector players across the continent to deepen collaboration to unlock the full value of aviation for trade, tourism, investment and regional connectivity.

Deputy Minister for Transport, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, expressed government’s commitment to sustaining policies and infrastructure investments to make Ghana a leading aviation hub.

“The Government, reaffirm its commitment to creating an enabling environment that fosters safe, efficient and sustainable aviation operations. We will continue to implement policies, invest in infrastructure and support innovation to ensure that Ghana remains competitive and attractive to both airlines and passengers,” she said.

Adding that: “To this end, Government through the Ministry of Transport is embarking on various initiatives aimed at promoting seamless airline operations and expanding the frontiers of the aviation industry to make Ghana an aviation hub within the West African sub-region and beyond.”

Director-General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Rev. Stephen Wilfred Arthur, encouraged AWA to further expand its network and showcase Ghana’s aviation capabilities across the continent and globally.

“As AWA marks this important moment, we encourage you to continue to strive for excellence; expanding your network and showcasing our aviation capabilities on the Continental and global.”

Tourism Minister Abla Dzifa Gomashie on her also highlighted the importance of customer experience at Kotoka International Airport, stressing that how visitors are received forms the core memory of their stay.

“You know we have launched the December in Ghana. How you receive them (the tourists) is the memory they leave with.”