The meeting followed months of engagement initiated by Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Victor Emmanuel Smith, and his team, including an earlier visit to Boeing and subsequent discussions aimed at developing a broader strategic partnership between Ghana and the global aerospace company.

At the New York meeting, President Mahama made clear that Ghana ’s interest goes far beyond the acquisition of aircraft.

“Ghana does not want its relationship with Boeing to be defined simply by the purchase of aircraft. We want a strategic partnership that helps us build an aviation ecosystem—creating skilled jobs, transferring technology, strengthening our industrial base and positioning Ghana as an aviation and logistics hub for West Africa .

“As we Reset Ghana, we are looking for partners prepared to invest with us, build capacity with us and share in the prosperity we create. Boeing can be one of those strategic partners.”

Discussions therefore focused on a comprehensive aviation partnership that could support the revival of Ghana’s national carrier while building the infrastructure, skills and technical capacity required for a competitive aviation industry.

Among the priority areas discussed were national carrier and fleet development, including technical support and guidance towards putting Ghana’s national airline back in the skies, as well as the potential establishment of a regional Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub in Ghana to serve airlines operating across West Africa and the wider African continent.

The discussions also explored opportunities in aviation training, skills development, technology transfer and the creation of high-value employment opportunities for young Ghanaians.

Boeing expressed its readiness to work closely with the Government of Ghana as the national carrier project progresses and indicated that, with the necessary structures and implementation arrangements in place, Ghana’s ambition of returning a national airline to the skies within approximately 18 months could be achievable.

The proposed partnership forms part of President Mahama’s broader Reset Ghana Agenda, which seeks to attract strategic international investment, create sustainable jobs, build Ghanaian technical capacity and position the country as a competitive gateway for trade, aviation and logistics in West Africa.

For Ghana, therefore, the objective is not simply to see the national flag flying again on an aircraft.

It is to build a modern aviation ecosystem around that flag—one that creates jobs, develops Ghanaian expertise, supports tourism and trade, strengthens regional connectivity and contributes meaningfully to the country’s long-term economic transformation.

Ghana is preparing to fly again — and this time, with a bigger vision.

Speaking to Global South World at the Crans Montana Forum, Henok described how Africa’s economic growth is already driving demand for air travel. “We’re seeing the highest GDP growth rates now in Africa,” he said. “Countries like Ethiopia, Rwanda, Morocco, Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire are registering growth of six to seven percent per year. More people have disposable incomes, which directly translates into air travel growth.”

Hundreds of planes

Yet that demand is colliding with limited capacity. According to Henok, Africa will need roughly 1,200 new planes over the next 20 years to meet the rising demand. That means massive investment not only in aircraft but also in airports, maintenance hubs, and supply chains. Ethiopia, for instance, is preparing to build one of the world’s largest airports - a $10 billion project designed for 100 million passengers annually.

Henock, a former Ethiopian ambassador to France and Spain, also highlighted the high cost of aviation fuel and restrictive regulations as barriers to progress. He called on African governments to fully implement the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), a continent-wide open skies agreement first adopted by African Union leaders in 2017. “Thirty-five countries have signed on, but we need everybody,” he said. “A liberalised African airspace will increase connectivity, lower prices and benefit both airlines and travellers.”

Despite hurdles, Henok sees a continent “visibly rising” with its youthful demographics and technological dynamism. He points to mobile money systems that outpace Europe ’s and to Morocco’s aviation manufacturing sector, which is integrated into Boeing’s global supply chain and generates more than $2 billion in annual exports. For him, these partnerships illustrate how Africa can leverage foreign technology on its own terms to build “win-win” industries.

At the forefront

Looking ahead, Henok envisions an Africa where more people can afford to travel, airports match global standards, and airlines operate the latest fuel-efficient aircraft. Ethiopian Airlines, for example, was among the first in the world to buy Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner and is now a launch customer for the new 777X.

“Africa is the continent of the present and the future,” he said. “When you see cities transformed and a young population full of energy, it gives me hope. If the future is bright for Africa, it will be bright for the world.”

Interview filmed by Said Echarif at the Crans Montana Forum in Rabat

[This article was amended to correct the name of Henok Teferra Shawl]

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