By Kebba AF Touray
An aviation expert has proposed a plan of action before Members of the ECOWAS parliament, which aims to reduce the high cost of air travel in the Region.
Dr. Paul Antoine Marie Ganemtore presented the plan before Members of the ECOWAS parliament last Thursday 8th May 2025, at the just concluded delocalized meeting of the Joint Committee of the Parliament on Infrastructure, Energy and Mines, which was held in Lome, the Togolese capital.
The objectives of Dr. Ganemtore’s action plan include support for the ECOWAS Commission’s Air Transport and Economic Oversight Committee, for support to Member States to fully implement the Supplementary Act on Aviation Charges, Taxes and Fees.
According to Dr Ganemtore, the plan further aims to contribute to an advocacy and communications strategy for the sensitization and awareness of ECOWAS member states, adding that the plan aims to ensure African airlines enhance their cooperation towards the Supplementary Act on Aviation Charges, Taxes and Fees, and to mobilize resources and strengthen their capacity as per the Supplementary Act on Aviation Charges, Taxes and Fees.
These objectives he said are crucial, saying the region is confronted with air transport challenges that impact heavily on regional integration and economic development and on the regional airline industry. He outlined that the strategic approach includes the establishment of a common policy on aviation charges, taxes and fees in ECOWAS Member states, and the establishment of an air transport economic oversight committee.
“Key priorities of this strategic approach and goal are to reduce the high cost of air travel within the ECOWAS Region, and to promote the establishment of a strong economic oversight system by member states and compliance with ICAO’s policies on aviation charges and fees,” he said; that it is also to remove or reduce all government taxes on air transport as well as reduce passenger and other charges and government imposed fees and levies on international aviation. He said the expected outcome includes the contribution to economic development and regional integration, as well as a reduction of airfares for passengers such as a 40 per cent reduction on all operating costs of airlines, and to encourage low-cost carriers to operate within the ECOWAS region.
“It will support the infrastructure department for the implementation of the air transport’s Common Community Legal Framework, and contribute towards the good functioning of the Air Transport Economic Oversight Committee,” he said, adding that on the external phase, it will make accessible and cheaper, cost of air transport to the community’s populations; provide advocacy and communication strategy in member states, and mobilise financial resources for the good functioning of the Air Transport Economic Oversight Committee of ECOWAS. He detailed that the communication strategies include the promotion of accessibility and visibility of the Supplementary Act A / SA. 2 / 12 / 24 dated 15th December 2024, relating to the common policy on aviation charges, taxes and fees in ECOWAS member states.
“It will also encourage ECOWAS Member States to comply with ICAO principles and procedures on aviation charges and fees, and will also create a website to showcase ECOWAS’ Supplementary Acts, provisions, objectives, scope of applications and key integration oriented projects,” Dr. Ganemtore said.
Dr. Ganemtore further stated that the action plan will further create and configure social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, to enlarge the project network towards passengers and aviation stakeholders, as well as organise seminars, workshops and events in the ECOWAS Member States, towards the implementation of Air Transport Common Policies.
