🗞️ Iconic London Photo Featuring Ghana Airways Ad Stirs National Nostalgia
A black-and-white image of a rainy street in Piccadilly, London, taken in 1964, is making waves across Ghanaian social media. The reason? A red double-decker bus — a British cultural icon — proudly bearing an advertisement that reads:
“Fly Ghana Airways”
The ad features bold white text on a black backdrop, alongside the image of a Ghana Airways plane tail adorned with the Ghana flag.
Captured during the bustling post-independence era, the photo has sparked a wave of conversation online, with many Ghanaians reflecting on the country’s former glory days when state-owned companies projected Ghana’s presence on the global stage.
✈️ A National Pride: The Rise of Ghana Airways
Founded on July 4, 1958, shortly after independence, Ghana Airways quickly became a symbol of national pride and ambition.
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It began as a joint venture with British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC)
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Ghana held a 60% stake, while BOAC provided aircraft and technical support
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The airline launched operations with a fleet that included VC10s, Il-18s, Boeing 707s, and Antonovs
🌍 Global Reach in the Golden Years
Throughout the 1960s to 1990s, Ghana Airways expanded internationally, offering flights to:
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London
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Rome
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New York
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Johannesburg
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Dubai
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Lagos and other major hubs
Its fleet grew to include modern aircraft like the DC-9, MD-11, Airbus A320, and A330, reflecting Ghana’s aviation ambitions.
💸 The Downfall: Debt, Seizures, and Suspension
By the early 2000s, however, mismanagement, debt accumulation, and safety concerns derailed the airline’s operations.
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2002: A DC-10 was seized at Heathrow over £4 million in unpaid bills
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The airline’s debt soared to over $160 million
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2004: The U.S. banned Ghana Airways from operating flights to the U.S., citing expired safety licenses
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Routes to New York and Baltimore were abruptly cancelled
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Government dissolved the board but was too late to stop the collapse
📉 Ceased Operations in 2005
In June 2005, Ghana Airways officially entered liquidation, marking the end of an era.
✈️ A Short-Lived Replacement: Ghana International Airlines
The government launched Ghana International Airlines in late 2005, with high hopes of restoring national air travel.
However, the airline struggled financially and failed to gain traction. It ceased operations on May 13, 2010.
🍴 The DC‑10 Turned Restaurant: A Nostalgic Relic
In a creative twist, one of the last remaining Ghana Airways planes — a DC‑10 — was converted into the “La Tante DC‑10 Restaurant” in 2013, parked near Kotoka International Airport.
The restaurant served as both a tourist attraction and a symbol of aviation nostalgia — until the aircraft was dismantled in 2023.
🇬🇭 What Ghanaians Are Saying
On platforms like X (Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram, reactions to the photo have been a mix of:
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Pride in Ghana’s former global reach
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Sadness over the collapse of key state institutions
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Calls for a return to national self-sufficiency and stronger leadership in aviation
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Source: https://www.ghanaweb.com
