[Ghana] GT Bank signs agreement with Dana Air for ticket payments

The agreement follows formal announcement of starting passenger operations by the Nigerian airline on October 10th, 2015 after approval by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

Olalekan Sanusi, the Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank (Ghana) Limited said: “Essentially, Dana Air’s entry will improve competition along the Accra-Lagos route. What we are meant to do as a bank is facilitate. What we thought we should be able to do is put conveninece at the doorsteps of passengers, who of course can be our own customers, so that they can book online and then go to any branch of GT Bank and just make a payment for the ticket.

“What we really desire to be is a supermarket. What we are trying to achieve is a situation where people can enter our banking hall and do so many things. You can pay your water and electricity bills, and pay for your air tickets among others.”

The airline becomes the third carrier from the largest economy in the sub-region to ply the route.

Sydney Silveira, Commercial Senior Manager, Dana Air, told the B&FT that: “We are starting daily flights from Lagos to Accra, and this will be expanded to Lagos-Accra-Abuja flights”.

Dana Air currently operates domestically with flights from Lagos to Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Uyo. It also operates flights from Port Harcourt to Abuja and Uyo-Abuja, using its fleet of five Boeing McDonnell 83 and Boeing B737-500 aircraft.

Accra is the first destination the airline outside Nigeria, as it seek to develop a strong presence in the West African sub-region.

Mr. Sanusi said GT Bank has the requiste systems to handle transactions of various service providers. “Our system is robust and can take many service providers. The investment we make in technology is always huge, and at every point in time we expand our base. More service providers are invited.”