LOMÉ, Togo – The Minister of Transport Sirleaf Ralph Tyler is leading Liberia’s delegation to the African Air Transport Convention & Expo 2026, joining aviation leaders from across the continent in discussions aimed at transforming Africa’s aviation sector.
By Jaheim T. Tumu | jaheim.tumu@frontpageafricaonline.com
Also, Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) Managing Director Ernest R. Hughes is member of the delegation.
Liberia’s participation in the high-level gathering highlights the country’s commitment to regional integration and aviation development, even as its representatives have so far attended proceedings as observers.
The five-day summit, hosted at Hôtel 2 Février in Lomé under the patronage of Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé, has brought together delegations from 38 African nations to advance implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), a flagship African Union initiative designed to liberalize air transport across the continent.
Opening the convention, Presidents Faure Gnassingbé and Paul Kagame of Rwanda criticized the high taxes, restrictive policies, and expensive airfares that continue to hinder intra-African travel and economic integration.
Although Liberia’s delegation has yet to address the conference, Hughes’ presence signals the commitment of President Joseph Boakai’s administration to continental efforts aimed at improving air connectivity and boosting regional trade.
The convention comes at a time when African leaders are pushing for lower ticket prices, upgraded airport infrastructure, and stronger integration with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene told delegates that “seamless air connectivity is indispensable” to the success of the trade agreement, warning that Africa’s economic ambitions could be undermined without affordable and efficient air transportation.
Industry leaders, including officials from the Togo Civil Aviation Authority, pointed to persistent challenges such as dependence on imported jet fuel, inadequate airport infrastructure, and regulatory barriers that continue to drive up travel costs across the continent.
Participants stressed that addressing these structural constraints is essential to making air travel more accessible and supporting Africa’s broader economic transformation agenda.
Key outcomes expected from the convention include the launch of the African Route Development Platform and the adoption of a ministerial declaration urging member states to accelerate implementation of SAATM commitments.
For Liberia, Minister Tyler, Managing Director Hughes and delegation place the country within the continent-wide effort to turn longstanding aviation ambitions into practical reforms that could improve connectivity, stimulate trade, and create new economic opportunities.
