Ashanti Airlines is set to be selected as the preferred bidder to support the establishment of a new Ghanaian national airline, well-placed sources have told ch-aviation.

Although AviationGhana broke the news citing its own sources, no official announcement has been made. However, ch-aviation is reliably informed that Ashanti Airlines has signed a joint venture agreement with the Government of Ghana as the home-based carrier. "Chances are high" that Ashanti Airlines has clinched the bid as the startup is currently in the final phases of its AOC certification drive with the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), ch-aviation was told. According to GCAA records, Ashanti Airlines Limited already holds an air carrier's licence (ACL) allowing it to operate scheduled and chartered passenger and cargo flights on an international, regional, and domestic basis.

AviationGhana's sources claimed the deal with the government was finalised. Ashanti Airlines was in the latter stages of completing its financial arrangements and already recruiting.

As reported, Ashanti Airlines is owned by Ghanaian business mogul and co-founder of the Despite Group of Companies, Osei Kwame Despite, and his business partner, Ernest Ofori Sarpong. They own the most prominent media group in Ghana and several financial, food and beverage businesses.

Ashanti Airlines had been the frontrunner for a while, with other bids submitted by Ghanaian management consultancy and brokerage JNH Group; Ethiopian Airlines; and EgyptAir. The latter two had separate Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Ghana in the past to revive a national carrier, but neither materialised.

Previous flag carriers Ghana International Airlines and Ghana Airways folded in 2010 and 2004, respectively.