Direct flights between Paris and Accra begins today, (February 28, 2017)

  Air France will from February 28, begin offering direct flights between Paris and Accra.

The  launched  the new commercial air  service between the countries was launched last year november and is aimed at facilitating movement between the two countries.

The new offer, the first in 50 years, is comes as a  relief for many travellers in the two countries who would normally transit at the Amsterdam airport before boarding another flight to Paris.

"This is an important step in strengthening bilateral relations between France and Ghana, a statement by the French authorities read.

"The launch of this service is doubly symbolic: it comes a few days before the 60th anniversary of Ghanaian independence, on March 6; and throughout 2017, we will celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries through a series of economic and cultural events."

The flights will be operated by Airbus  A330 with a capacity of 208 seats until 27 March 2017, then by Boeing 777-200 with 312 seats and it will fly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

It will leave Paris at 13:30 GMT and will arrive at the Kotoka International Airport 19:05 the same day and will leave Accra at 22:25 and arrive in Paris at 6:00 the following day.

However from March 28, 2017 when the  Boeing 777-200 takes over the business,  it will depart Paris at 15:30 and arrive in Accra at 19;50 the same day and will leave Accra at 23:45 and arrive at 8:00 the following day.

The new Government of Nana Addo is looking forward to improve Ghana's airline business with the minister of aviation promising to establish a new Ghana airline in two years time.

Ghana is considered most prefered destination in Africa for most foreign airlines to do business and according to France,  the direct Paris-Accra flights will further strengthen this trend by facilitating cultural exchanges and tourism between the two countries.

There are more and more French businesses in Ghana, particularly in the energy, transportation and agrifoods sectors. Ghana has become the 7th-largest country for direct French investment in Africa.

By Fiif Abdul Malik/ghanguardian.com