President John Dramani Mahama has called for the establishment of direct flights between Ghana and the Caribbean to strengthen trade, tourism, and cultural ties between the two regions.
He made the call at the Presidency in Accra during a state luncheon in honour of the Prime Minister of Grenada, Honourable Dickon Amiss Thomas Mitchell, who is on a two-day official visit to Ghana.
President Mahama described the Afro-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIV) as a vital platform to reinforce trade and investment ties between Africa and the Caribbean. However, he noted that one major challenge continues to hamper cooperation — the lack of direct air connectivity between the two regions.
“The Afro-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum is another avenue to strengthen the trade and investment connections between Africa and the Caribbean. However, one significant barrier continues to hinder our cooperation, and that is the lack of direct air connectivity between the Caribbean and Africa,” President Mahama said.
He observed that despite being geographically close, travel between the two regions remains unnecessarily long and cumbersome. “Despite being only six hours apart by air, travel between our regions can take nearly a full day, often routed through Europe or North America,” he lamented.
According to the President, this limitation restricts the smooth movement of people, goods, and services between the Caribbean and Africa, stressing the need for both regions to work together to change the situation.
“We must collaborate to change this situation. Creating direct air links between Ghana and the Caribbean is not just a matter of convenience, but a strategic necessity,” President Mahama emphasized.
He added that establishing such connectivity would “unleash significant opportunities for trade, tourism, culture, and education between our people.”
President Mahama’s remarks came as Ghana and Grenada continue to explore ways of deepening bilateral cooperation in areas including health, education, and tourism, as part of efforts to strengthen the long-standing bond between Africa and the Caribbean.
