Ghana’s only domestic and regional airline, Africa World Airline (AWA), will from January 16, 2018 start Lagos-Monrovia service via Accra, as it seek to improve connectivity withing the West African sub-region.
The airline is offering a promotional fare of starting from US$199 on the Lagos-Monrovia route and passengers can log on to www.flyawa.com to book their flight.
Lagos remains the economic capital of the sub-region’s largest economy, Nigeria. Given the enormous economic activities in Lagos, the new service by AWA presents an opportunity to Nigeria and Liberian entrepreneurs seeking to expand.
It would be recalled that AWA on December 12, 2017 started a direct service between Ghana’s capital Accra and Liberia’s capital and key economic hub, Monrovia. The service is expected to deepen trade relations between the two West Africa states.
The airline currently operates flights between the Accra and Monrovia on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The Accra-Monrovia-Accra flights departs Kotoka International Airport at 11:30hrs on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and arrive in Monrovia at 13:30hrs. The return flight departs Monrovia at 14:10hrs and arrive in Accra at 16:10hrs.
Ghana and Liberia have very good diplomatic relations. A significant number of Liberians live and work in Ghana, while fishing communities along Ghana’s coasts have relations in coastal Monrovia and regularly visit.
On the economic benefit of the new route opening, Monrovia’s economy is dominated by its harbor – the Freeport of Monrovia – and as the location of Liberia’s government offices. Monrovia’s harbor was significantly expanded by U.S. forces during the Second World War and the main exports include latex and iron ore.
Materials are also manufactured on-site, such as cement, refined petroleum, food products, bricks and tiles, furniture and chemicals. Located on Bushrod Island between the mouths of the Mesurado and Saint Paul rivers, the harbor also has facilities for storing and repairing vessels.
Given Ghana’s numerous traditional and non-traditional exports, the new service opens a new chapter for intra-Africa trade in the sub-region. This presents an enormous opportunity for businesses and investors in both countries.
