The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration-designate, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has noted that the operations of Qatar Airways in Ghana will add value to Ghana-Qatar relations by boosting trade and other related business activities.
She also believes the move will enhance people-to-people contact between the two countries.
It is in this direction that Ms Botchwey has urged the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Qatar Airways to use his good offices to encourage Qatari investors to take advantage of the attractive business and investment climate in Ghana, within the context of the government’s industrialisation agenda, to invest in Ghana.
The Foreign Minister-designate said this when she held discussions with the CEO of Qatar Airways, Akbar Al Baker, during an official visit to the State of Qatar this week.
Warm courtesies
She further expressed satisfaction at the decision by the Ghanaian government to the management of Qatar Airways for their decision to operate weekly flights from Doha to Accra during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when many businesses were cutting back on expansion and operation plans.
Ms Botchwey said she looked forward that the various economic cooperation agreements signed between the two countries would serve as a sustainable framework for forging stronger bonds of cooperation between Ghana and Qatar.
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways began its daily service between Accra and Doha on April 15, 2020.
With eight new destinations joining its network in 2020, management of the airline expanded its destinations to177 around the world.
Its new destinations are Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan – two weekly flights, Almaty, Kazakhstan – Two weekly flights, Cebu, Philippines – three weekly flights, Accra, Ghana – daily flights, Trabzon, Turkey – three weekly flights, Lyon, France – Five weekly flights, Luanda, Angola – four weekly flights and Siem Reap, Cambodia – five weekly flights.
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Airline’ by the 2019 World Airline Awards, managed by Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best Business Class’, and ‘Best Business Class Seat’, in recognition of its ground-breaking Business Class experience, Qsuite. It is the only airline to have been awarded the coveted ‘Skytrax Airline of the Year’ title, which is recognised as the pinnacle of excellence in the airline industry, five times.
Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of more than 250 aircraft via its hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA), to more than 160 destinations worldwide. The world’s fastest-growing airline added several exciting new destinations to its growing network last year, including Rabat, Morocco; Izmir, Turkey; Malta; Davao, Philippines; Lisbon, Portugal; Mogadishu, Somalia; Langkawi, Malaysia; and Gaborone, Botswana.