Students across Ghana are being encouraged to explore career opportunities in the aviation sector, as the country intensifies efforts to revive and expand the industry, particularly its airline operations.

The renewed push comes as the government establishes a high-level task force to lead the creation of a new national airline. The initiative follows a directive by President John Dramani Mahama as part of Ghana’s aviation development agenda.

At an aviation awareness seminar held at Kumasi Technical University, students from various tertiary institutions and professionals from the Ashanti Region gathered to learn about opportunities in aviation, including aircraft maintenance and engineering.

“The aviation industry is growing globally, and Ghana must not be left behind,” said Muhammed Mustapha Hudu, a representative from Lanka Pacific Aviation and Engineering in Sri Lanka.

“We offer practical training in aircraft maintenance engineering to equip students with the skills needed to ensure aircraft safety, compliance, and performance. Ghanaian students are welcome to join us in Sri Lanka.”

He noted that the global aviation industry is constantly evolving and requires highly skilled professionals.

“Our programs are designed to meet international standards, and we’re proud to contribute to building the next generation of aviation engineers from Ghana,” he added.

A lecturer at Ghana Technology and Telecommunications University, Dr. Abubakar Umar, urged students to embrace current opportunities and avoid limiting themselves.

“Pursue programs that are relevant to the future,” he said. “The aviation industry has the potential to employ thousands, and Ghanaian youth must tap into it.”

The seminar also featured testimonies from students. A final-year aerospace engineering student at KNUST, Tahiru Abdul Rahman Baaba, said: “It was an eye-opening experience. I’m more inspired to continue on this path knowing the world needs our expertise.”

A medical laboratory technology student at Kumasi Technical University, Bawa Hamdiya, said she never thought of aviation as a career option for someone like herself, “but now I understand that the industry is broad and offers many roles beyond piloting.”

Another participant, Gifty Entsey, BA Geography and rural development graduate from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, added: “This session has changed my perspective. I’m now considering how I can align my skills with roles in aviation.”

Others like Caleb Kwaku Dogbe, civil engineering students at Kumasi Technical University, Abdullah Hamza Mohammed, BSc Computer Science student at SDD-UBIDS, and Alhassan Adam are considering pursuing programmes in aviation to meet the demand for workers in that area.

Organizers said the seminar aimed to bridge the information gap and help students identify practical training opportunities in aviation-related fields, such as mechanical maintenance and aircraft line operations.

They called young Ghanaians to take advantage of global aviation growth and position themselves for future careers that support Ghana’s vision for a vibrant, national airline and a thriving aviation sector.