By Prince Antwi
Passenger arrivals at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) declined by 10.3% year-on-year in March 2025, according to data from the Bank of Ghana. The number of arrivals fell to 98,146, down from 109,380 recorded in March 2024.
Despite the annual decline, the report noted a slight 2.2% increase in arrivals on a month-on-month basis, suggesting a modest rebound in travel activity.
For the first quarter of 2025, total arrivals鈥攃omprising both air and land border entries鈥攕tood at 295,415. This marked a 4.1% decrease compared to the 308,024 arrivals recorded in the same period in 2024.
Port Activity Records Strong Growth
In contrast to the decline in air travel, Ghana鈥檚 maritime trade showed notable improvement. The country鈥檚 two main ports鈥擳ema and Takoradi鈥攚itnessed a significant increase in international trade activity, measured by laden container traffic for both inbound and outbound shipments.
Container traffic surged by 22.0% year-on-year in March 2025, reaching 73,577 containers.
Cumulatively, for the first quarter of 2025, total container traffic rose by 20.5% year-on-year to 205,145 containers, reflecting stronger port activity and trade momentum.
The contrasting trends between airport and port performance highlight shifting dynamics in the country’s trade and tourism sectors as Ghana continues its post-pandemic recovery.