Accra and Entebbe provide springboard into East and West Africa

STRATEGIC HUBS are a key element of effective logistics, and for Interafrica Freight Solutions, Accra and Entebbe provide the ideal western and eastern African transhipment points. Accra and Entebbe offer “tales of two different hubs,” but each has its benefits for the regions they serve, said company founder and principal shareholder Cacho Cabral, speaking from nominal “semi retirement” in Cape Town. “Accra has one difficulty and that is fuel price. It is much more expensive than Entebbe. I started in the cargo business in 1974 when there was a fuel crisis, and today what has changed?” Cabral said. Interafrica Freight Solutions’ sister company Afrihub is located at Entebbe, and receives cargo shipped from Johannesburg. Interafrica’s bonded warehouse in SA is located at OR Tambo International Airport where cargo is palletised for transport. The firm works with a range of scheduled airlines, also chartering aircraft to African destinations where required. “Only cargo, not passengers. Cargo doesn’t complain,” Cabral joked. Telecommunication equipment and mining equipment are currently big movers. Chartered aircraft have often been filled with humanitarian aid this year, destined for UN agency distribution. “West Africa is a challenge, a different place to work than East Africa, but Ghana is improving,” said Cabral, who believes Accra’s location as his firm’s regional air hub is central to his customers’ cargo destinations. As the country’s main air facility, Accra’s Kotoka International Airport (KIA) serves about 30 air carriers and the Ghanaian air force. Government has invested in the facility, opening a new terminal in 2004 and upgrading some infrastructure more recently.