Ghana and Switzerland have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, (MOU) for the development and liberalization of air services between the two countries. The MOU precedes the signing of an Air Services Agreement which will come into force after ratification by both countries.
The Air Services Agreement will be signed in 2009. A statement issued in Accra by the Switzerland Embassy in Ghana said the signing of the MOU shows the desire by the two countries to promote an international aviation system based on competition among airlines in the market place and the facilitation of the expansion of international air services.
The statement said, since efficient and competitive international air services enhance trade, the welfare of consumers and economic growth, there is the need to ensure the highest degree of safety and security in international air services. It said the MOU recognizes the designation of SWISS and Ghana International Airlines as national carriers of the two parties and makes provision for code sharing and other commercial operations.
The MOU thus grants provisional approval to carriers of both countries to commence operations immediately pending the signing and ratification by both Governments of the main services agreement.
