Accra, a Prime Business Destination

Africa, the famed Dark Continent, has many important cities that have either emerged or are in the process of evolving as prime global business destinations. Accra, the port city and capital of Ghana, is one such place which is now placed in the list of top 10 best cities for doing business in Africa. The city has been adjudged on various parameters including economic profile, political stability, market size, infrastructure, business facilities, and openness and flexibility for international trade.

Many international companies have their headquarters presently based in Accra. The city with its robust security and infrastructure is renowned for exporting cocoa and gold in huge quantities. The city has also become a major hub for tourism, banking and trading. Accra, with its rich cultural heritage and population of nearly 12 million people, is fast gaining popularity as West Africa’s most stable destination for businesses.

Accra’s popularity can be gauged from the fact that a premier newspaper in the United States ‘The New York Times’ has named Accra as among the best destinations for pleasure and business for 2013. Accra made it to the fourth spot out of 46 destinations recommended to the readers.

Karen Leigh, an expert reviewer, while writing in The New York Times described Accra in eulogizing terms saying that it has become a buzzing metropolis today ready to welcome visitors for pleasure and business. Leigh wrote that Accra has for past several years opened up for business travelers, and now has become a favorite tourist destination for people from many Western countries. This is because it is among the safest destinations in Africa today with a fastest growing economy.

With Accra having emerged as prime leisure-cum-business destination, the city is being increasingly connected with most parts of the globe. Many international airlines have either expanded or are on the verge of boosting their flight networks. Germany’s flagship carrier Lufthansa is among the growing list of airlines that is strengthening its network in Accra with increased flight frequencies.

Lufthansa recently announced that it will be increasing its frequency between Frankfurt and Accra starting from June 19, 2014. Travelers from Ghana will now get increased travel options with the airline operating flights five times every week between the two cities.

The airline, which will be operating flights on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, said that the frequencies are being increased on Accra-Frankfurt route because of growing market demand.

According to the current flight schedule of Lufthansa, the airline will now be the first to make its arrival at Accra’s Kotoka International Airport at about 7 pm local time. The airline will similarly also be the first to make its departure for Frankfurt Airport at nearly 8.50 pm local time. The present schedule will make it convenient for the airline’s customers to skip long queues at departure as well as immigration control during peak departure hours between 7pm to 11 pm local time.

Lufthansa will conduct flight operations on Accra-Frankfurt route with the help of an Airbus A330 aircraft, which was introduced in March 2014. The newly refurbished wide-body aircraft is configured in three classes – 8 seats in first class, 48 business class seats and 165 seats in economy class.

Travelers booking business class tickets for travel between the two cities on Lufthansa will be offered full-flat bed seats. The new seating arrangement provides enough elbow room to the customers. The passengers are also offered delicious complimentary in-flight meals and state-of-the-art entertainment system offering different genre of movies and music to suit every taste.

Lufthansa will be serving Ghanaian dishes on board the flights. The delectable cuisines include grilled chicken, red red, and Kelewele Joliof rice.