Africa World Airlines · AWA · AW · Ghana's own airline · Accra hub
Forty minutes to Kumasi instead of five hours on the road. An hour to Tamale instead of a full day. Africa World Airlines, AWA, is Ghana's largest airline and the one most Ghanaians actually fly: small Embraer jets shuttling between Accra and the Garden City, the North and the big Nigerian cities. Here is where it flies, what it flies, and what to know before you book.
AWA began flying in 2012, with Ghanaian and Chinese investors behind it. It filled the gap left by a long line of failed Ghanaian airlines, from Ghana Airways to Antrak and Starbow. It has outlasted most of its competitors by sticking to one aircraft type and a tight network built around Accra. In July 2026 it announced a partnership with Etihad, linking its regional routes to Etihad's worldwide network, with expanded Accra–Abu Dhabi services planned for 2027.
Key facts
Ghana is on GMT all year; Nigeria is one hour ahead. Domestic flights are short and frequent, so you can usually fly out in the morning and back the same evening.
| Route | Flight time | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accra ⇄ Kumasi | about 40 min | Several daily | First departure from Accra around 06:40–07:20. |
| Accra ⇄ Tamale | about 1 hour | Several daily | Last flight back from Tamale around 17:00–17:30. |
| Accra ⇄ Lagos | about 1 hour | Several daily | AWA's busiest international route. |
| Accra ⇄ Abuja | about 1 hour 45 min | Daily or near-daily | Nigeria's capital. |
| Accra ⇄ Takoradi | about 40 min | Varies | Flown at times; check before booking. |
| Monrovia, Freetown, Abidjan | — | Varies | Flown at times; check before booking. |
Read this before booking
AWA adjusts its network often, adding and dropping routes with demand. The times above come from summer 2026 schedules. Always check your date on flyafricaworld.com before you plan around a flight.
AWA's busiest international route is Lagos. Local time in both cities, the weather at this moment, and a converter between cedis, naira and the main currencies.
For most travellers, AWA's real value is the domestic network. The road from Accra to Kumasi is one of the most dangerous in Ghana and can take five hours or more; the road to Tamale takes a long day. AWA turns both into a short hop, which opens up the Ashanti heartland and the savannah North for a short visit.
Kumasi is the seat of the Asantehene and the heart of the Ashanti kingdom. Its airport, now named after Prempeh I, has a new terminal. From Kumasi you reach Manhyia Palace, Kejetia market, the kente villages of Bonwire and Adanwomase, and Lake Bosumtwi.
Tours from Kumasi and across the Ashanti Region. Entrance fees are included in the tour price; tips are not included but always welcome.
Tamale is the gateway to Ghana's North: Mole National Park and its elephants, the old mud mosque at Larabanga, the crocodile ponds of Paga, the Navrongo cathedral, and the Upper East and Upper West regions beyond. In the harmattan months, December to February, dust can delay or divert flights.
Tours in Northern Ghana: Mole, Tamale and the Upper regions. Entrance fees are included in the tour price; tips are not included but always welcome.
Accra–Lagos is one of the busiest air routes in West Africa: traders, families, musicians, students and business people moving between the two cities all day. By road it is a long day through Togo and Benin with four border posts; by air it is an hour.
Nigeria in brief
Tours in Nigeria: Lagos, Abuja and beyond. Entrance fees are included in the tour price; tips are not included but always welcome.
Many AWA passengers arrive in Accra on an international flight and connect to Kumasi or Tamale. If you are spending time in the capital first, start with Jamestown, the Nkrumah Memorial Park and the coast, then go west to Cape Coast, Elmina and Kakum.
Accra International Airport December in Ghana
Airport pickup with free internet, private vehicle hire and a three-destination tour, booked before you land. Entrance fees are included in the tour price; tips are not included but always welcome.
Before you fly, tune in to the country you are going to. Live radio from all over the continent, in one place.
Every airline flying from Accra, each with its own timetable, routes and destination guide.
Connecting on from Accra or Lagos? These city pages cover the airports and the routes that link them with Ghana.
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Updated and fact-checked: 28 October 2026. Routes and times from summer 2026 schedules; AWA changes its network often. Always confirm with the airline before booking. Text and research by Remo Kurka for GhanaFlights.info. This website carries no Google advertising.