The captain of Ghana's national football team, Asamoah Gyan, has been issued a license by the government to operate a domestic airline. The 31-year-old Gyan, who plays for Turkish club Kayserispor, would be the first Ghanaian footballer to venture into the airline industry. He has scored 49 goals for Ghana since he made his international debut in 2003.
Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo made the announcement to thunderous applause during the 2017 African Air Show at Kotoka International Airport in the capital Accra on Wednesday.
"The captain of our senior national football team, the Black Stars, Asamoah Gyan, [also known as Baby Jet] has obtained an air carrier license and is working feverishly to establish an airline," Akufo-Addo said. He said the airline would be named Baby Jet airlines, after the footballer's nickname.
"I want to call on other Ghanaians both home and abroad to invest in the rapidly growing aviation sector," the Ghanaian leader added. The Baby Jet Airlines is expected to commence operations soon. Reports suggest that the company will commence operations with cargo handling, before expanding subsequently to airlift travelers. It is, however, unclear whether the Airline will be solely focused on domestic travels and cargo handling, or will operate within the sub-region or serve as an international airline.
Ghana's domestic airspace is currently being operated by two airlines. The African Airshow is an aviation industry fair that brings together players in the sector to network. The Expo also provides an opportunity for manufacturers and service providers in the sector to explore and meet potential customers. Also, it will highlight the importance of infrastructure within the aviation industry to discover first-hand the range of new technologies and solutions that the industry has to offer.
