• Ghana Civil Aviation Authority launches SAF feasibility and implementation studies to align aviation with net‑zero goals.

• ICAO feasibility analysis highlights Ghana’s potential to develop a sustainable aviation fuel industry using agricultural feedstocks.

• The initiative supports broader environmental commitments and positions Ghana as a potential regional leader in green aviation.

The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has initiated a sustainability push in the aviation sector by launching feasibility and business implementation studies on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), aiming to support the industry’s transition toward net‑zero carbon emissions by 2050 in line with international targets set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

At a two‑day SAF workshop opened on 24 February 2026, GCAA Director‑General Rev. Stephen Wilfred Arthur described the SAF initiative in a Linkedln post as a “significant milestone in Ghana’s journey towards a greener and more resilient aviation sector,” underscoring the regulator’s commitment to aligning national policy, certification frameworks, and fuel‑supply standards with ICAO guidance. He characterised the SAF focus as moving beyond research into “the critical stage of business implementation.”

The feasibility study, supported by ICAO under its ACT‑SAF programme and funded by the UK Department for Transport, indicates that Ghana has significant potential to develop a SAF industry thanks to abundant agricultural residues, existing refining infrastructure and regional trade linkages, which could contribute to ICAO’s global net‑zero objective. However, challenges remain in feedstock mobilisation and cost competitiveness, requiring coordinated policy and investment frameworks to attract industry participation.

Officials say in the long term, developing a SAF production sector would deliver both environmental and economic benefits. SAF, produced from renewable feedstocks such as agricultural waste rather than conventional fossil fuels, can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions from aircraft by up to 80 %, and its production supports a more diversified fuel supply and new value chains in agriculture and energy — including potential opportunities to repurpose cocoa husks and other biomass into value‑added.

Ghana’s SAF efforts reflect broader industry commitments. Under ICAO’s Strategic Plan 2026‑2050, the aviation sector is pursuing net‑zero carbon emissions by 2050 as a core environmental goal, promoting cleaner fuels, operational efficiency and harmonised international standards. SAF is expected to deliver a substantial proportion of the required emissions reductions within this roadmap.

The GCAA’s initiative places Ghana in a leading position among African states working to integrate sustainable fuel strategies into national aviation planning.

By Cynthia Ebot Takang