The Aviacargo Team, led by Director Olumyiwa Femi-Pearse, recently explored cargo operations at Kotoka International Airport in Ghana. Supported by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and Ghana Airport Company Ltd, the team aimed to boost Aviacargo business in Nigeria, currently ranked fifth in Africa.
High Commissioner Ibok-Ete Ibas emphasized during the team’s visit to the Nigerian Embassy in Ghana, “Nigeria is now learning from people who had earlier learned from us. We should show more patriotism to restore Nigeria to its rightful position in the world.”
During the Ghana visit, the team actively engaged with aviation authorities, toured cargo terminals, and interacted with stakeholders. Noteworthy stops included Aviance Cargo, Ghana’s oldest special-purpose cargo terminal, and the Swissport Terminal, the most modern in West Africa.
Observing trade imbalances, the Aviacargo Committee Coordinator remarked during discussions with the Ghana Export Promotion Agency (GEPA), “I observed that Ghana imports eggs from Belgium to hatch for day-old chicks while eggs are rotting in North Central Nigeria. Why is Ghana importing mangos from Brazil to produce fruit juice for export? If Ghana is good at exporting yams, can we supply more yams to Ghana for increased exports? These will grow the two economies.”
The Director of Commercial and Business Development, speaking about Nigeria’s potential in air cargo, asserted, “The potential in Nigeria to do air cargo is massive but mostly untapped. We have seen the high-tech facilities at Addis Ababa, we have seen the output by Kenya, and we have now seen the modest but functional adaptation by Ghana, so we know exactly what to do.”
This visit marked the committee’s third international exploration, following active visits to Nairobi, Kenya, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as well as inspections of airports in North Central Nigeria. The team actively engaged with GEPA, addressing concerns. NAFDAC’s representative assured transparency in the approval process for Nigerian-bound exports.
The committee’s observations highlighted the opportunity for regional collaboration and economic growth, emphasizing the importance of learning actively from global counterparts. The Ghana visit concluded with optimism about actively fostering closer ties between the two nations for mutual prosperity.
